OTTAWA — It has been a challenging period for major premiers in Canada, as three of the nation's most prominent political figures see their approval ratings plummet to personal lows.
Approval Ratings Hit Bottom for Three Premiers
According to an Angus Reid poll released Thursday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, B.C. Premier David Eby, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have all experienced significant declines in public support.
“Smith’s approval drops to an all-time low at 39% after weeks of controversy over her government’s plan to hold an October referendum related to Alberta’s place in Canada,” the poll noted.
“West of the Rockies, Eby drops to 31% as his government faces ongoing pressure over DRIPA (B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act), property-rights concerns, health care and affordability after nearly nine years of NDP government in B.C.”
In Ontario, Ford’s approval rating fell to just 21%, the lowest recorded level in his eight years as premier. This represents a 10 percentage point drop since the previous quarter.
Premier Rankings and Trends
Ford’s 21% approval is the lowest among all provincial premiers. Eby’s 31% ranks second-worst, a six-point decline. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston sits at 34%, down five points, while Alberta’s Smith dropped seven points to 39%.
New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt saw the steepest decline, falling 13% to 41%. Meanwhile, Newfoundland’s Tony Wakeham rose eight points to 50%, tying with Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe (down one point). Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew remains the most popular at 62%, up one point.
Context and Contributing Factors
Smith’s approval has hovered in the high 40s since 2022, peaking at 51% last June. Eby’s support peaked at 53% in March 2025 but has since dropped sharply, falling below 40% in December and reaching 31% now.
Ford’s rating has fluctuated, hitting a high of 69% during the COVID-19 pandemic and 48% in March 2025, but now falling below his previous low of 28% in September 2023.
“His government has continued to frame its agenda around protecting Ontario from U.S. tariffs, but that message has competed with a budget projecting years of deficits, as well as persistent affordability and health-care challenges,” the poll said.
“Most damaging may have been the brief purchase of a $28.9-million government jet, which Ford announced was being sold back to Bombardier after significant backlash.”
The poll was conducted May 7–11, 2026, with a randomized sample of 1,803 Canadian adults via the Angus Reid Forum. While margins of error do not apply to online panels, an equivalent sample would yield a margin of error of ±2.0%, 19 times out of 20.
