Premier Scott Moe’s approval falls two points to 51 per cent in latest Angus Reid survey

A survey published on Wednesday by the Angus Reid Institute indicates that Premier Scott Moe’s popularity dropped slightly in the last quarter, but Saskatchewan’s leader remains the third most popular premier in Canada.

The non-profit think tank’s survey – which polled a randomized sample of 4,005 Canadian adults who are members of the Angus Reid Forum – pegged Moe’s approval rating at 51 per cent, down from 53 per cent in the previous poll.

Despite the drop, Saskatchewan’s premier remained one of just three provincial leaders with positive approval ratings, albeit only by a single point.

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In the survey, Moe’s approval came in behind Manitoba’s Wab Kinew (61 per cent) and New Brunswick’s Susan Holt (54 per cent), but his rating was higher than Alberta’s Danielle Smith (46 per cent) and Newfoundland’s Tony Wakeham (42 per cent). Bringing up the rear of the pack were Nova Scotia’s Tim Houston (39 per cent), B.C.’s David Eby (37 per cent), Ontario’s Doug Ford (31 per cent) and Québec’s François Legault (26 per cent).

“Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has gone international in recent months, securing major wins on the economic front for his province in the forms of a $2.6-billion uranium trade deal with India and a drop in tariffs assessed on the key provincial crop of canola after a trip with Prime Minister Mark Carney to China,” the survey noted.

“The domestic picture, however, will likely pose further challenges for Moe and his Saskatchewan Party government in the coming months. Prior to this week’s budget announcement, Moe said the province will have a deficit, partially due to revenue drops from international trade headwinds.”

Breaking down the numbers, the institute reported that 19 per cent of survey respondents strongly approved of Moe’s performance, while 33 per cent moderately approved. A total of 21 per cent said they moderately disapproved of Saskatchewan’s premier’s performance, while 24 per cent strongly disapproved and three per cent were unsure.

Moe’s approval has been largely steady since September of 2024, falling between 45 and 52 per cent. The lowest his approval rating has dipped was 43 per cent in October of 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, while his approval has reached at a high of 65 per cent on two separate occasions, coming in 2019 and 2020.

The Angus Reid Institute noted significant popularity drops by both Eby – whose approval was down three per cent – and Houston, whose popularity fell by 11 points.

“Eby has been embroiled in controversy over his role in the federal government’s land agreement with the Musqueam Indian Band. Eby initially claimed that he didn’t know the details of agreement, though it was later noted that he sat front row at the signing ceremony and that his government was briefed on the agreement in the weeks prior,” the institute wrote.

“This, alongside B.C.’s historic deficit and reportedly weak investment environment, have many questioning what Eby and his party’s future will look like after the B.C. Conservative Party leadership race elects a new opposition leader.”

Houston, meanwhile, is facing challenges around a deficit and reversing course on cuts to services.

“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 institute noted.

“The mea culpa was not enough to reverse public opinion on Houston, as he falls to 39 per cent approval.”