N.S. Premier Tim Houston’s approval drops to lowest rating yet: Angus Reid

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston speaks in Halifax on March 10, 2026.

As Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston continues to deal with the fallout of his government’s budget, his personal approval rating has dropped to the lowest point since he assumed office in 2021, according to a new poll from non-profit Angus Reid.

The poll, which was conducted from March 11 to 17 with more than 4,000 adults, found Houston’s approval rating dropped from 50 per cent in December to 39 per cent in March. It was the largest point decrease among the nine premiers polled by Angus Reid.

Houston is also now the premier with the lowest approval rating in Atlantic Canada, although Angus Reid notes it does not release data on Prince Edward Island due to its small population.

In the poll, Houston ranks above the premiers of British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec.

According to Angus Reid, Houston’s approval rating has hovered around the 50 per cent area for much of his tenure, although it did peak with 73 per cent in March 2022. Prior to the latest poll, his lowest approval rating was 41 per cent in September 2024.

“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,” a news release from Angus Reid reads. “The mea culpa was not enough to reverse public opinion on Houston.”

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt is the holds the highest approval rating among her Atlantic Canada colleagues at 54 per cent, although this represents a two per cent drop from last December. In the overall ranking she’s only behind Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who sits at 61 per cent.

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham, who was elected to office last October, sits at 42 per cent approval.

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