Ontario Premier Doug Ford is rejecting a recent public opinion survey that placed his approval rating at the lowest level of his political career, insisting that his Progressive Conservative government remains strongly positioned to win another majority mandate if voters went to the polls today.
Speaking at a provincial funding announcement in northern Ontario, Ford sharply criticized an Angus Reid Institute survey that found only 21 per cent of Ontarians approve of his government’s performance. The result marked the lowest approval rating recorded for Ford since he first became premier in 2018.
Ford dismissed the findings as inaccurate, arguing that the survey did not fairly reflect public opinion across the province. He suggested that polling organizations often oversample areas traditionally supportive of opposition parties and claimed the results were not representative of Ontario as a whole.
The premier pointed to internal Progressive Conservative polling that he said places party support at approximately 41 per cent province-wide. Based on those numbers, Ford argued his government would secure another large majority if an election were held today.
The poll comes during a challenging period for the provincial government. Ford’s third term has been marked by economic uncertainty related to international trade tensions, concerns over provincial deficits, and criticism surrounding the government’s now-cancelled plan to purchase a new executive jet.
Despite the negative poll numbers, Ford maintained that Ontario’s economy remains strong and highlighted recent employment growth as evidence that his government’s policies are working. He cited provincial job creation figures and emphasized that Ontario continues to attract investment while avoiding major tax increases.
However, opposition parties dispute the government’s economic narrative. The Ontario Liberal Party has pointed to reports indicating slower job growth and rising unemployment rates. Liberal finance critic Stephanie Bowman has argued that Ontario’s labour market challenges began before recent international trade disputes and continue to affect workers across the province.
The Angus Reid survey found that Ford’s approval rating declined by 10 percentage points compared to the previous poll conducted earlier this year. The findings placed him among the least popular premiers in Canada according to the survey.
Leading the national rankings was Wab Kinew, whose approval rating stood at 62 per cent. Tony Wakeham recorded one of the largest gains among Canadian premiers, reaching 50 per cent approval.
The survey was conducted online among more than 1,800 Canadians and was designed to reflect demographic and regional diversity across the country. According to Angus Reid, the results carry a margin of error of approximately plus or minus two percentage points.
Despite the poll’s findings, Ontario voters are unlikely to head back to the ballot box anytime soon. The next scheduled provincial election is not expected until 2030 unless an earlier election is called.
Ford’s Progressive Conservatives secured a third consecutive majority government in the February 2025 election, giving the premier a strong mandate and several years to address economic challenges, public concerns, and the political headwinds reflected in recent polling.
For now, the debate over the survey highlights the growing gap between opposition criticism and the government’s assessment of its own performance. Whether public opinion aligns more closely with the pollsters or the premier’s confidence will become clearer as Ontario’s economic and political landscape evolves in the years ahead.