A new poll from Liaison Strategies delivers more troubling news for Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his Progressive Conservative party. The survey, released Friday, shows the leaderless Ontario Liberals holding a slight lead over the Tories, marking a shift from last month's tie.
Liberal Lead Grows
According to Liaison Principal David Valentin, the Liberals have moved from a tie to a three-point lead over the PCs. While not a runaway advantage, the movement this month is against Ford. The PCs are down two points from May, the Liberals are up one, and the NDP is up two.
If an election were held today, 38% of decided voters would choose the Ontario Liberals, compared to 35% for the PCs. The Ontario NDP continues its upward trajectory with 22% support.
Ford's Approval Ratings Hit New Lows
This trend began late last year, with Tory support slipping as Liberal and NDP support climbed. The Liaison numbers align with last week's Angus Reid data, which ranked Ford last among Canadian premiers in approval, alongside Alberta's Danielle Smith and B.C.'s David Eby.
According to Liaison, 69% of respondents disapprove of Ford's performance, while only 26% approve. Five percent were unsure. Valentin noted that the province's direction numbers are equally grim: 29% say Ontario is headed in the right direction, while 66% say it is headed in the wrong direction. This creates an extremely difficult environment for an incumbent government.
Health Care a Key Concern
The survey also highlights health care as a major frustration. Sixty percent of Ontarians reported someone in their household had trouble accessing timely care in the past year. Additionally, 67% said the health-care system is worse than a year ago, 20% said it's about the same, and only 10% said it has improved. Moreover, 66% do not trust the current government to improve health care.
The poll underscores growing discontent with the Ford government, as the Liberals gain ground despite lacking a permanent leader.
