Premiers ranked
Despite losing her majority government in the May election, Premier Christy Clark’s approval rating is roughly the same today as it was last year, according to an exclusive Postmedia national poll on first-minister popularity.
What has changed for Clark, though, is that her disapproval rating has gone up since last year.
Mainstreet Research polled 650 British Columbians between June 12 and 15, two weeks after the NDP and Green parties announced they had struck a deal to form a baremajority government that, if successful, would move Clark to the opposition benches.
The poll found 37 per cent of residents approved of the premier, nearly the same as last year’s 39 per cent, given the margin of error is 3.84 per cent.
“The Liberals won a large number (43) of seats and they do have some support in the province. This has to do with her resilience ... and her image of being a fighter and someone who is formidable,” said David Valentin, Mainstreet’s executive vice-president. “At the same time, people are unhappy with what she is doing.”
But Clark’s disapproval rating jumped to 60 per cent this year, with only three per cent of British Columbians left unsure what to think of her. That compares to last year, when 52 per cent disapproved of her and nine per cent had not formed an opinion.
But Clark is not the most hated premier in the country. Only 19 per cent of Ontarians approve of Kathleen Wynne and just 21 per cent of Newfoundlanders like Dwight Ball. Nor is Clark the most liked: winners of the popularity contest, with roughly 50 per cent approval ratings, are Manitoba’s Brian Pallister, Nova Scotia’s Stephen McNeil and P.E.I.’s Wade MacLauchlan.
Clark is thought of slightly better on the national stage than in B.C., as 40 per cent of Canadians approved of her and 40 per cent did not, leaving 20 per cent unsure. This national approval rating is quite high compared to other first ministers — only Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Quebec’s Philippe Couillard and Alberta’s Rachel Notley are thought of more highly by all Canadians.
Valentin noted some premiers’ names are not recognized outside their provinces, but Clark’s is. “At least she is a known presence across the country. For better or for worse, she has made an impression.”
If the province has another election soon, Valentin said, Clark’s resilient brand could promise “more interesting times in B.C.”