NEW data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Ontario Premier Doug Ford down six more points in approval amid frustration in Ontario over his handling of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Fewer than one-in-three (30%) Ontarians approve of him, marking a new low for his tenure at Queen’s Park. This, as two-thirds of Ontarians (67%) say he has handled the pandemic poorly. Ford and his Progressive Conservative government are under heavy scrutiny over recent shortages of rapid tests in the province. Three-quarters of residents say the province has done a poor job in distributing tests where they are needed – the highest number in the country. Ford faces a provincial election in June this year.

Four premiers receive majority approval this quarter – Nova Scotia’s Tim Houston, Quebec’s François Legault (whose province also has an election scheduled this year), B.C.’s John Horgan, and Newfoundland and Labrador’s Andrew Furey. Each is dealing with a unique public opinion landscape, however, when it comes to COVID-19 policy. While Houston and his government receive top marks on testing and vaccination, majorities in each of the other three provinces say their government has done a poor job in supplying the population with sufficient levels of rapid testing.

More Key Findings:

• Despite being overwhelmingly positive about their provincial government’s handling of vaccination and testing in Saskatchewan, residents are critical of Premier Scott Moe’s pandemic stewardship. Fewer than two-in-five (37%) say he has done a good job himself of handling COVID-19.

• Alberta’s Jason Kenney continues to receive criticism over his COVID-19 strategy. Four-in-five (78%) say that he has done a poor job, compared to 19 per cent who offer approval.

• New Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson garners the lowest level of approval this quarter, with 21 per cent of residents commending her performance.

Link to the poll here: www.angusreid.org/