Premiers’ Performance: Eby Falls to a New Low in B.C., While Kinew Continues His Comfort Atop The List

Ontario’s Doug Ford drops back close to record low, with just 31 per cent approving of him

March 18, 2026 – As B.C. abandons the biannual tradition of changing clocks, Premier David Eby is falling back as some others spring ahead.

New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds Eby’s approval rating has declined 16-points year-over-year. In March 2025, when most premiers enjoyed a bump in popularity as nationalism surged in the face of tariffs and threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, Eby was approved by a record-high of 53 per cent of British Columbians. Now, just 37 per cent say the same.

The drop comes as B.C. finds itself mired in budget concerns, health care issues, and brewing controversies over Aboriginal title.

Eby’s fall is notable, but the largest decline this quarter belongs to Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, who drops double digits after a budget about-face. Nova Scotia is also staring down a significant provincial deficit, but Houston’s government will have to find other areas to save funds after back-tracking on proposed cuts to services for people with disabilities, seniors and visible minorities. The mea culpa was not enough to reverse public opinion on Houston, as he falls to 39 per cent approval.

Elsewhere, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is in a familiar pole position, with approval of three-in-five (61%) in the province. Only two other provincial premiers – Susan Holt in New Brunswick and Scott Moe in Saskatchewan – join him in receiving majority approval of their constituents.

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

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