June 11, 2026 – Political discontent may be growing across the country, but this quarter’s premier approval ratings show a clear concentration of trouble among three of the country’s most prominent leaders. In Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario, Danielle Smith, David Eby and Doug Ford all fall to personal lows, each facing a different mix of governing fatigue, economic pressure and controversy at home.
New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Smith and Eby — premiers of neighbouring provinces increasingly at odds over pipelines, federalism and the future of national unity — both losing ground this quarter. Smith’s approval drops to an all-time low at 39 per cent after weeks of controversy over her government’s plan to hold an October referendum related to Alberta’s place in Canada. West of the Rockies, Eby drops to 31 per cent as his government faces ongoing pressure over DRIPA, property-rights concerns, health care and affordability after nearly nine years of NDP government in B.C. In Ontario, Ford falls to 21 per cent — the lowest approval level of his eight-year premiership.
The picture is not universally bleak. Manitoba’s Wab Kinew continues to hold high esteem, with three-in-five approving of his performance and a 12-point advantage over any other provincial leader. Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe remains steady at 50 per cent, while new Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette begins her tenure with approval from about two-in-five — a 13-point improvement over the final rating for former Premier François Legault.
Premier approval — June 2026
Figure shows total approval; small numbers indicate change since last quarter.
Note: Because its small population precludes drawing discrete samples over multiple waves, data on Prince Edward Island is not released.
Eby and Smith slide to personal worsts
B.C.’s David Eby and Alberta’s Danielle Smith share a border, differing opinions over pipelines, and evidently now a growing dissatisfaction with their leadership.
In Alberta, UCP leader Danielle Smith has spent recent weeks apparently unsuccessfully trying to thread the needle on separation: insisting she does not support Alberta leaving Canada, while also putting a question exactly about that directly before voters. Smith announced that Albertans will vote on Oct. 19 on whether the province should remain in Canada or whether the government should begin the legal process toward a future binding referendum on separation. Critics have accused Smith of legitimizing separatism and creating economic uncertainty. Separatists, meanwhile, have argued the question does not go far enough because it does not actually ask Albertans whether they want to leave Canada, only whether they want to start the process of having a referendum about leaving.
The controversy has left Smith attempting to appeal to an alienated conservative base without fully embracing the separatist movement driving the debate. These new approval numbers represent a crack in what has been a strong foundation for Smith, whose approval has hovered in the mid-40’s since 2022. She falls to 39 per cent, three points lower than her previous worst and seven points lower than the approval she registered in March. The proportion of those who strongly disapprove of her surpasses her approval at 46 per cent, with another 10 per cent disapproving less firmly (56% disapproval total):
Approval of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
Smith currently holds approval from seven-in-10 of her party’s past voters, while one-quarter disapprove:
Approval of Alberta Premier Danielle Smith
In B.C., Premier David Eby has had plenty to say about Alberta’s actions and relationship with the federal government in recent months. But British Columbians are assessing him on his own challenges. Politically, his opposition now has a face in new BC Conservative Party leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, while his government continues to face pressure over Indigenous rights and title, property-rights concerns, and the implementation of DRIPA.
Those issues have been sharpened by recent court decisions and agreements involving Aboriginal title, which have given the Conservatives an opening to argue the NDP has created uncertainty for landowners and municipalities. At the same time, persistent health care and affordability challenges after nearly nine years in power may be culminating in decreasing satisfaction. Eby’s personal approval level falls six points this quarter to a personal worst at 31 per cent.
Approval of B.C. Premier David Eby
Eby’s challenges within his base appear much worse than those of Danielle Smith. While he still holds majority approval, he does so only slightly:
Approval of B.C. Premier David Eby
Ford falls to lowest point in eight-year term
In Ontario, Doug Ford falls to a personal low after a quarter marked by both economic pressure and self-inflicted wounds. His government has continued to frame its agenda around protecting Ontario from U.S. tariffs, but that message has competed with a budget that is projecting years of deficits, as well as persistent affordability and health-care challenges. Most damaging may have been the brief purchase of a $28.9-million government jet, which Ford announced was being sold back to Bombardier after significant backlash. Ford is approved of by 21 per cent of residents, the worst assessment during his tenure as premier:
Approval of Ontario Premier Doug Ford
Kinew approval levels continue to be comfortable
Manitoba’s Wab Kinew continues to hold the coveted spot among premiers as the most approved of in the country. Three-in-five (62%) approve of the NDP leader, who made waves this quarter publicly rebutting Alberta’s Danielle Smith over her government’s position on a potential separation referendum and its obligations to consult First Nations. Kinew has also broken with the enthusiasm shown by some other premiers for large-scale data centre projects, coming out against a proposed facility in Manitoba. While governments across the country have pitched AI and data infrastructure as a source of jobs, innovation and economic growth, ARI data from June found Canadians are deeply skeptical of having such projects close to home: 68 per cent would oppose a large AI data centre within a few blocks of where they live.
Approval of Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew
Moe receives praise from half
Premier Scott Moe lands in a familiar place this quarter with half (50%) in the province approving of his performance. It is perhaps no surprise that he was officially nominated to lead the Saskatchewan Party into the next election, scheduled for 2028, as the party looks to extend its streak of majority governments to more than two decades.
The quarter has not been without controversy for the government. Saskatchewan followed Alberta’s suit by passing an involuntary treatment act which permits court-ordered treatment for those with severe addictions. The province’s Compassionate Intervention Act has been met with criticism by doctors in Saskatchewan but the government has argued involuntary treatment will provide a path to recovery for those with severe addictions.
Approval of Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe
Fréchette approved of by two-in-five
Recently elected Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette stepped into the unenviable position of trying to steer the Coalition Avenir Québec government away from almost certain electoral wreckage. She took over an office vacated by predecessor François Legault, who finished his final months as the least-approved-of premier in the country.
Her approval of 39 per cent is a significant improvement from Legault, who left office with a positive score of just 26 per cent, but there are as many who disapprove (40%) as offer plaudits.
She has not been afraid to reignite debate in politically sensitive areas for the province. During her campaign to replace Legault, Fréchette suggested she was open to discussing shale gas and hydraulic fracturing in the province, which has been banned since the National Assembly passed a moratorium on hydrocarbon exploration and production in 2022. A motion to reiterate the ban was passed in March by a 91 to 3 margin.
Fréchette has also made a play towards addressing the high cost of living, a key issue which will factor into the province’s fall election. The government reduced the sales tax permanently on certain basic food and hygiene products, cut $50 from vehicle registration fees starting in September, and issued a tax credit for 3.5 million low- and medium-income Quebecers.
Do you approve or disapprove of the performance of Premier and Coalition Avenir Québec leader Christine Fréchette?
Atlantic roundup
Tim Houston
Ill-will towards Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has apparently festered since his government reversed unpopular cuts initially proposed in the province’s spring budget. Approval of Houston in the province is 34 per cent, a new low and far below previous levels.
Since the poorly received spring budget, the Nova Scotia government faced an eight-week long strike of long-term care workers which imposed significant hardships on seniors throughout the province.
Houston, until last month, had held the position of energy minister, which made him the face of the province’s energy development push, including a controversial exploration of fracking for natural gas in the province. Houston downplayed fracking opponents, who have been showing up to protest consultation sessions and worry that fracking poses environmental and health risks.
Approval of Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston
Susan Holt
The majority approval of New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt has dissipated this quarter, down 13 points to 41 per cent. The province tabled a record deficit budget in March, partly driven by a 17.4-per-cent boost to health care spending. Holt has claimed this record spending has helped New Brunswick make progress on addressing issues with the health care system including the number of residents without access to primary care. There have been reportedly mixed results as to progress on some of the government’s key goals.
To help offset the increased health care spending, the New Brunswick government announced a planned toll for a highway near the border of Nova Scotia, which has been criticized by Nova Scotians, the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce and Prime Minister Mark Carney as it runs counter to the federal government’s goal of removing interprovincial trade barriers. Holt has argued that the toll will help address the province’s infrastructure deficit.
Approval of New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt
Tony Wakeham
The PC government in Newfoundland and Labrador under Premier Tony Wakeham has made several moves to address the high cost of living, a consistent top issue for those in the province. First, in March, in the wake of rapidly rising gas prices due to the Iran war, Wakeham pledged to make permanent a reduction in the provincial gas tax.
Residents were also staring down the possibility of an increase in power rates this summer. This after there were “widespread concerns” about power bill spikes in January. Wakeham wrote to NL Hydro to suggest applying a credit to offset the increase, which is expected to mitigate what would’ve been another seven-per-cent bump to residents’ bills. Wakeham rises to 50 per cent in approval.
Approval of Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham
Summary table
Premiers — approve/disapprove by province (unweighted sample sizes in brackets).
Methodology
The Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey from May 7–11, 2026, among a randomized sample of 1,803 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/− 2 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding. Provincial margins of error: BC ±4, AB ±5, SK ±5, MB ±5, ON ±3, QC ±4, NB ±6, NS ±5, NL ±7. Because its small population precludes drawing discrete samples over multiple waves, data on Prince Edward Island is not released.
