New poll suggests Doug Ford's PC party has nine-point lead ahead of June election
Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservative party appear to have an early lead over the NDP and Liberals with the spring provincial election still months away, a new poll has found.
The Abacus Data poll of 1,210 adult voters across Ontario found that 37 per cent would vote to re-elect the PC government if an election were held today, compared to 28 per cent who would vote for the Liberals and 25 per cent who would vote for the NDP. Five per cent of respondents said that they would vote for the Green party while another five per cent said that they would vote for another party.
The poll comes on the heels of the release of an Angus Reid Institute survey, which suggested that only 29 per cent of Ontarians approve of the job Ford is doing as premier, his lowest approval rating to date.
The Abacus poll, however, paints a more optimistic picture for the Tories when it comes to their electoral chances in June.
“The PCs start 2022 with the advantage but not one that is not insurmountable. There is widespread dissatisfaction with the Ford government and Premier Ford himself, although not to the extent it was prior to the pandemic,” CEO David Coletto said in a posting accompanying the poll results. “If an election was held today, the PCs would likely win thanks to a divided opposition and strength in all parts of the province.”
The Abacus poll found that about one-third of respondents (32 per cent) have a positive impression of Doug Ford while 46 per cent have a negative impression and 20 per cent have a neutral impression.
The percentage of respondents who have a positive impression of Andrea Horwath was the same (32 per cent) but only 30 per cent had a negative impression of the NDP leader.
Meanwhile, only 20 per cent of respondents said that they had a positive impression of Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca. That said the percentage of respondents who had a negative impression of Del Duca was the lowest among the three major party leaders (26 per cent).
The bad news for the Ford government is that when it comes to the top issue for voters – the COVID-19 pandemic – 50 per cent of respondents rated the Tories performance as poor or very poor.
The Tories also scored poorly on housing affordability (65 per cent poor or very poor) and the rising cost of living (67 per cent poor or very poor).
“Housing affordability and inflation are two areas where the provincial government performs worst and they become liabilities for the PCs if they don’t have compelling solutions in the lead up to the election,” Coletto warned.
The Abacus Data survey was conducted over the phone between Jan. 7 and Jan. 12. It is considered accurate to within 2.9 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.