Moe polling ahead of Beck despite affordability woes in Saskatchewan: Angus Reid poll

A new poll suggests Saskatchewan residents still prefer Premier Scott Moe over Opposition Leader Carla Beck, despite the significant economic strain many people in the province are feeling.

According to polling data released on Wednesday by the Angus Reid Institute, which relied on a relatively small sample of 325 residents polled online last month, 52 per cent either strongly or moderately approved of Moe as premier, while Beck had the approval of 32 per cent.

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In the poll, 19 per cent held strongly favourable views of the premier, while the opposition leader was only strongly favoured by six per cent. Moe was viewed with moderate approval by 33 per cent, compared to 26 per cent for Beck. The data showed 24 per cent strongly disapproved of Moe, while 36 per cent strongly disapproved of Beck. Additionally, 21 per cent said they moderately disapproved of the premier, while 22 per cent moderately disapproved of Beck.

But while Moe seems to have the confidence of the majority, the figures also showed that economic issues are having a big effect on the province’s population. Of those polled, 44 per cent said they were in a worse financial position than they were a year ago, which the Angus Reid Institute noted was “notably higher than the national average” of 36 per cent.

Despite the economic challenges many in Saskatchewan are facing, the polling data suggest Premier Scott Moe remains significantly more popular than Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck. (Angus Reid Institute)

Cost of living was the top issue across the province, according to the polling data, followed by health care, economy/jobs, government spending, crime and public safety, education and housing affordability.

“Despite these challenges, Saskatchewan stands out nationally for its relative confidence in direction,” the think tank noted in a statement accompanying the data.

“Nearly half (45%) say the province is on the right track, among the highest levels of optimism in the country. This outlook is buoyed by comparatively stronger assessments of government performance across key files, though ratings remain modest on the issues residents care about most.”

The economic outlook for the year ahead was not exactly rosy, according to the polling data. Just 16 per cent of those polled said they expect their financial situation to improve in the coming year, while 36 per cent expected it to get worse and 39 per cent expected no change.

Moe’s approval rating fell by two points to 51 per cent in the latest batch of premier approval ratings, which were published by Angus Reid last month, but he remained the third most-popular premier in the nation, trailing Manitoba’s Wab Kinew (61 per cent) and New Brunswick’s Susan Holt (54 per cent).