Maritimers give Ottawa higher marks than provincial governments: poll

A new poll by Narrative Research says many Maritimers are frustrated with their provincial governments.

Many Atlantic Canadians feel more positive about the federal government than their provincial leaders, according to a new quarterly poll by Narrative Research.

The survey found 64 per cent of Atlantic Canadians are satisfied with the performance of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s federal government.

Researchers said that support is largely driven by confidence in Carney’s handling of the oftentimes-shaky Canada-U.S. relationship, and what they say is Carney’s efforts to expand trade beyond the United States.

At the provincial level, there are much higher levels of dissatisfaction in all three Maritime provinces.

“What stands out is a clear divide in public sentiment,” said Margaret Brigley, CEO and partner of Narrative Research. “Atlantic Canadians are expressing growing frustration with their provincial governments, driven largely by local concerns such as health care, spending and leadership, while at the same time showing comparatively strong confidence in federal leadership during a period of economic uncertainty and change.”

In Nova Scotia, 59 per cent of respondents said they were dissatisfied with the provincial government. Fifty-five per cent of Prince Edward Island residents voiced their displeasure with the provincial government while 37 per cent of New Brunswickers expressed dissatisfaction.

“Across all of the provinces, health care is a top concern. It’s something people are worried about alongside cost of living,” said Margaret Chapman, COO with Narrative Research. “But then on a province-by-province basis, the other concerns are really different.”

Narrative Research has been conducting quarterly politics surveys for nearly 50 years.

In total, 1,614 completed surveys were conducted, including 734 in Nova Scotia, 495 in New Brunswick, 237 in Newfoundland and Labrador, and 148 in P.E.I.