Latest data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has taken a beating during the second wave of the coronavirus.
The institute says that from a public opinion perspective, the early days of the pandemic were a strongpoint for Ford. His shift in persona is seen as the reason for him earning the approval of Ontarians previously entrenched along party lines.
Although Ford’s approval remains at a majority level, it has fallen 11 points in the last three months, now sitting at 55 per cent according to the Angus Reid survey. COVID-19 hospitalizations climbing to second wave highs in the province, and the Peel region and City of Toronto lockdowns by the province could be some reasons why.
While British Columbia Premier John Hogan and Quebec’s Francois Legault had the highest approval ratings of 64%, Alberta’s Jason Kenney (40%) and Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister (32%) were at the bottom of the list.
The self-commissioned, online survey was conducted by the Angus Reid Institute during the week of Nov. 24 from a representative randomized sample of 5,003 Canadian adults who are members of the Angus Reid Forum.
The poll has a margin of error of +/- 1.4 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
