A recent Postmedia-Leger survey indicates that support for Ontario Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative Party is waning, as more residents seek political alternatives. While the PCs remain the frontrunner with 39% support among decided voters, the leaderless Ontario Liberal Party has narrowed the gap to 34%, followed by the NDP at 17%.
Declining impressions of Ford
Nearly half of Ontarians (48%) say their impression of Premier Ford has worsened in recent months, including 27% of PC voters and 58% of Liberal supporters. Only 5% of respondents reported an improved view, with a slightly higher 10% among PC voters. Meanwhile, 40% said their opinion remained unchanged, including 63% of PC voters and 34% of Liberal voters.
Provincial direction questioned
The poll found that 56% of Ontarians believe the province is heading in the wrong direction, while just 36% think it is on the right track. Ford himself is a polarizing figure, with the highest favourability (33%) and unfavourability (59%) ratings among political leaders surveyed. NDP Leader Marit Stiles had 31% favourability, and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner had 25%.
Economic concerns top the list
Inflation and the rising cost of living remain the top concerns for Ontarians (22%), followed by housing affordability (10%). Concerns about Canada-U.S. relations and trade tensions have diminished to just 3%. Andrew Enns, executive vice-president of Leger, noted that the Ford government must refocus on affordability to maintain its mandate. He also highlighted that ethics in politics has become a growing issue, with 7% citing political corruption as a priority.
Enns expressed mild surprise at the Liberal Party's rise despite lacking a leader, attributing it partly to the popularity of the federal Liberal brand. The survey underscores a shifting political landscape in Ontario, with voters increasingly open to alternatives.
