Horgan tops premier approval ratings

It appears the honeymoon isn’t over yet for Canada’s two newest premiers.

B.C. Premier John Horgan and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe share Canada’s highest job performance approval rating among premiers, both tied at 52 per cent.

According to the latest Angus Reid Institute poll, Horgan’s approval rating has increased three points in the last quarter to reach 52 per cent, while Moe’s rating fell one point to match Horgan.

Horgan (NDP) became premier in July 2017, while Moe (Saskatchewan Party) came into office in late January 2018 following former premier Brad Wall’s retirement.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Dwight Ball (Liberal) is in third place, after his rating increased seven points to reach 42 per cent. Manitoba’s Brian Pallister (Progressive Conservative) is in fourth place, increasing three points to reach 37 per cent.

Meanwhile, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley rounded out the top five with an approval rating of 33 per cent, up one point from the last quarter.

While Horgan and Notley have been tied up in a very public spat over pipelines and wine in recent months, it appears neither premier’s approval rating was affected, with Horgan increasing in approval and Notley’s approval remaining statistically unchanged.

The poll was conducted online between March 6 and 15 among a randomized, representative sample of 5,423 Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. For comparison, a probability sample of this size with this sample plan would have a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.