Doug Ford’s approval rating lowest among Canadian Premiers, polling shows

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating has seen its largest dip since he took office as he currently ranks last among Canadian premiers, new polling shows.

The Angus Reid Institute has Ford’s approval rating at 28 per cent, down five per cent from his previous standing. Those findings were published last week, on Sept. 8. Ford is tied with Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson, whose approval rating improved from 25 per cent to 28 per cent, respectively.

Ford’s current approval rating is the lowest of his five-year term as Ontario’s Premier. Ford held his highest approval rating in March 2020 at 69 per cent, but it’s dipped significantly since.

Elsewhere, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe and Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston are tied with the country’s highest current approval rating despite a significant drop, while Newfoundland Premier Andrew Furey (49 per cent), British Columbia Premier David Eby (48 per cent) and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith (47 per cent) all made gains in approval rating, the research shows.

Photo: Angus Reid Institute research.

Ford’s abysmal approval rating is likely a direct result of the Greenbelt scandal after two scathing reports were released last month from the auditor general and the integrity commissioner, saying that the housing minister’s chief of staff favoured certain developers over others when selecting which lands would come out of the Greenbelt.

RELATED: Ontario Housing Minister Steve Clark resigns in wake of Greenbelt controversy

Ford has admitted the process of selecting sites was flawed and has accepted the auditor’s recommendations on procedural changes. This led to the resignation of Ontario’s Housing Minister, Steve Clark, who stepped down from his post after the integrity commissioner found he violated ethics rules when the province opened up parts of the protected Greenbelt for development.

Photo: Angus Reid Institute research.

The Ford government is trying to build 1.5 million homes by 2031, as recommended by a provincial housing affordability task force, which also concluded that a shortage of land wasn’t the problem and Greenbelts must be protected.

The province is so far not on track to meet that housing goal.

The integrity commissioner found Clark’s chief of staff, Ryan Amato, was the driving force behind the land swap that benefited certain developers. He also concluded the minister failed to oversee his staff.

Amato, who resigned two weeks ago, selected 14 of the 15 sites that were removed from the Greenbelt.

With files from The Canadian Press