Despite a dip in his popularity, a new poll shows Scott Moe remains tied as Canada's most popular provincial leader. (650 CKOM file photo)

By CKOM News Staff

Despite seven-point dip, Moe remains tied as most popular premier: Angus Reid

Sep 13, 2023 | 12:19 PM

A new poll shows Scott Moe’s popularity slipping, but Saskatchewan’s premier remains tied with Nova Scotia’s Tim Houston as the most popular provincial leader in Canada.

The poll, released Wednesday by the Angus Reid Institute, showed Moe and Houston tied at an even 50 per cent approval rating, a single point ahead of Newfoundland’s Andrew Furey.

According to the poll, Moe’s approval has dropped significantly in recent weeks.

“Premier Scott Moe sees the biggest fall in his approval rating, dropping seven points from June,” the think tank wrote in a statement.

“The rising cost of living remains a pressing concern in the province where the NDP swiped two seats in recent byelections while arguing that taxes and the cost of utilities have risen under recent Saskatchewan Party governments.”

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Moe’s popularity has been consistently high in Angus Reid polls, peaking at 65 per cent in June 2020 and dipping to a low of 43 per cent in December of 2021.

While some of the Moe government’s recent announcements have been controversial, the think tank said they are less likely to hurt his approval in Saskatchewan than they might be in other parts of the nation.

“Saskatchewan politics drew significant attention last month when Premier Scott Moe announced a policy requiring teachers to obtain parental consent if students wish to change their pronouns or name at school,” the poll read.

“Opponents say these laws only serve to put children that are not comfortable sharing their identity with parents at risk. However, this policy is supported more in Saskatchewan than elsewhere in the country – half in the province say parental consent should be required if a child wishes to change their gender identity in schools.”

According to the Angus Reid Institute, economic issues may be the main factor dragging down Moe’s approval rating.

“The inflation rate in Saskatchewan remained above the national average in recent data, while the Canadian Taxpayers Foundation called on the province’s government to cut gas taxes to help residents struggling with the rising cost of living,” the institute wrote.

“The NDP won two out of three byelections last month after blaming recent Saskatchewan Party governments for rising utility bills and taxes.”

Elsewhere in Canada, B.C. Premier David Eby’s approval was sitting at 48 per cent in the poll, with Alberta’s Danielle Smith and Quebec’s François Legault tied just behind at 47 per cent.

New Brunswick’s Blaine Higgs sat at a 30 per cent approval rating in the poll, ahead of Ontario’s Doug Ford (28 per cent) and Manitoba’s Heather Stefanson (28 per cent).

The poll surveyed 3,873 Canadians, and has a margin of error of plus or minus five per cent in Saskatchewan.