Majority of Albertans disapprove of Smith's leadership
A new Ipsos poll shows 56% of Albertans disapprove of Premier Smith's job performance, with deep splits over her handling of separatism.
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Fifty-six percent of Albertans disapprove of Premier Danielle Smith's job performance, according to a new Ipsos poll conducted between May 28 and June 1. Only 38% approve, with 6% undecided.
The disapproval spans across demographics and political lines, though it's sharpest on opposite ends of the separatism debate. Among those who'd vote for separation, 79% approve of how Smith has handled the issue. Among those opposed, disapproval reaches similar intensity.
Darrell Bricker, chairman of Ipsos Canada, described Smith as "pleasing no one at the moment." Forty-two percent strongly disapprove of her performance, compared with 17% who strongly approve.
Approval does vary by demographic. Men approve at 45%, women at 31%. Younger Albertans aged 18 to 34 show 45% approval, while those 55 and older drop to 31%. Among UCP supporters, approval sits at 78%—but only 14% of NDP voters and 16% of undecided voters back her.
On separatism specifically, 58% disapprove of Smith's handling, including 44% who strongly disapprove. One-third approve.
For context, Opposition Leader Naheed Nenshi's approval rating is 39%—one point higher than Smith's—though his disapproval (44%) is slightly lower. Nenshi performs better in Edmonton (42% approval) and Calgary (44%) than elsewhere in the province (31%).
Bricker noted that if Smith can move past the sovereignty debate, "there's a possibility here for recovery." For now, she's working with what he called "a very thin sheet of ice."