Premier Christy Clark's approval rating falls to 30 per cent: poll

Premier Christy Clark’s approval rating in British Columbia has dipped to 30 per cent, according to a new poll by Angus Reid Institute.

Clark’s rating is 3 points lower than the last poll performed for the last quarter. In September 2013, the same poll indicated her approval rating was 44 per cent – the second highest in Canada. Since the high of 2013, Clark has experienced consecutive quarterly declines.

Image: Angus Reid Institute

The B.C. Premier’s latest approval rating is the third lowest among the Canadian provinces, with only New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant (27%) and Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger (23%) lower in the basement.

On the flip side, the nation’s highest rated provincial Premiers were Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall (61%) and Alberta’s newly elected Rachel Notley (53%). The survey notes that Notley’s approval rating could change in the coming months.

“This survey was conducted prior to the Alberta Throne Speech on June 15, which signaled the premier’s intent to raise corporate and personal income taxes and ban union and corporate donations to political parties,” the pollster wrote.

“Measurement of Notley’s approval three months from now will more accurately reflect the feelings of Albertans toward these changes, as well as those anticipated around the minimum wage, greenhouse gas regulations and royalties.”

The survey of 6,291 Canadians only examined the approval ratings of the Premiers of Canada’s nine largest provinces. Prince Edward Island and the territories were not accounted for.

Canadian Provincial Premier Approval Ratings: June 2015

Saskatchewan, Premier Brad Wall: 61%
Alberta, Premier Rachel Notley: 53%
Newfoundland and Labrador, Premier Paul Davis: 39%
Quebec, Premier Philippe Couillard: 39%
Nova Scotia, Premier Stephen McNeil: 37%
Ontario, Premier Kathleen Wynne: 31%
British Columbia, Premier Christy Clark: 30%
New Brunswick, Premier Brian Gallant: 27%
Manitoba, Premier Greg Selinger: 23%