Poll shows Wab Kinew has highest approval rating among Canadian premiers
He has only been in office since October, but Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is already boasting the highest approval rating among Canadian premiers, according to a new poll.
The poll, released Monday by Angus Reid, shows Kinew has an approval rating of 57 per cent among Manitobans surveyed. Of that number, 21 per cent say they ‘strongly approve’ of Kinew.
Kinew is followed by Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe, who has an approval rating of 54 per cent. Premier Andrew Furey of Newfoundland and Labrador and Premier Tim Houston of Nova Scotia are tied with a 48 per cent approval rating.
Quebec’s Francois Legault had the lowest approval rating among premiers in Canada, falling to 31 per cent, a 16 per cent decrease from the previous poll.
Kinew’s polling is a stark contrast from his predecessor Heather Stefanson, who ranked dead last in the previous four polls of premiers going back to December 2022.
KINEW, NDP IN HONEYMOON PERIOD: POLITICAL SCIENTIST
Christopher Adams, adjunct professor of political science at the University of Manitoba, says Kinew is currently in his honeymoon period, which typically correlates with a high popularity for a premier.
“Polling numbers show that after leaders change, like in a convention or they choose a new leader, often there is a big significant bump in the polls,” he said. “So I think this is something comparable going on here.”
Adams says Kinew and the NDP made a lot of promises on the campaign trail, including fixing health care and making life more affordable for Manitobans, which could impact approval as his term continues.
“He's made commitments, many of which are difficult to fulfill, such as correcting our health-care sector,” he said. “So, we'll have to see how that works its way through.”
Adams says there is currently a sense of optimism among Manitobans about Kinew’s election as premier.
“It'd be surprising if he could hold these numbers at this high level,” he said. “But other premiers do, like Scott Moe next door in Saskatchewan, holds very high numbers and has consistently done so with the Angus Reid poll. So there's an opportunity for Wab Kinew to have the type of popularity that Gary Doer did have some years ago as a multi-term Premier.”
METHODOLOGY
Angus Reid conducted the poll between Nov. 24 and Dec. 1, surveying 3,749 people across Canada. The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus four per cent.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6964632.1721072503!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
LIVE Trump receives enough delegate votes to officially be Republicans' nominee
The top of Republicans’ presidential ticket came together suddenly Monday, as Donald Trump swept a majority of votes from national convention delegates and announced Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his vice presidential running mate.
Donald Trump announces Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance as VP pick
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced on his Truth Social Network that Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance will be his vice presidential pick.
DEVELOPING Motive of man who tried to assassinate Donald Trump remains elusive
Former U.S. president Donald Trump called for unity and resilience after an attempt on his life injected fresh uncertainty into an already tumultuous presidential campaign, while President Joe Biden implored Americans to 'cool it down' in the final stretch and 'resolve our differences at the ballot box.'
Who is JD Vance? Things to know about Donald Trump's pick for vice president
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday chose Sen. JD Vance of Ohio to be his running mate as he looks to return to the White House.
LIVE RNC UPDATES Conservatives rally around Vance
The Republican National Convention kicked off this week, with delegates and officials descending on Wisconsin amid the tumult that follows a Saturday assassination attempt on Trump as he becomes the GOP’s official nominee. Follow for live updates of the RNC.
Trucker who caused Broncos crash applies to have permanent resident status returned
The truck driver who caused the deadly Humboldt Broncos bus crash has applied to have his permanent resident status returned.
Sask. TikTok star Bella Brave dies after latest hospitalization
Sask. TikTok star "Be Brave" Bella Thomson has died. She was 10-years-old.
What to expect from the 2024 Republican National Convention, just days after the Trump rally shooting
The Republican party kicks off its convention to pick its presidential nominee in Milwaukee, Wis., on Monday, just two days after former U.S. president Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt at a rally in Pennsylvania. Here's CTVNews.ca's guide on what to expect.
The biggest questions the U.S. Secret Service will have to answer, according to former federal agents
After an assassination attempt on Donald Trump on Saturday, former U.S. Secret Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents are hoping the investigation uncovers what really happened.