Premier showed arrogance and sense of entitlement: poll

Alberta Premier Alison Redford leaves with members of her caucus after a meeting in Edmonton, Alberta on Monday March 17, 2014. (Jason Franson / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

A new poll shows Alison Redford’s approval rating went down after she paid back $45,000 for her trip to South Africa for Nelson Mandela’s funeral.

ThinkHQ, a public relations firm based in Calgary, surveyed 1,688 Albertans on the effects surrounding the Premier's travel expense controversy.  Before she paid back the money, Alison Redford’s approval rating was 19%.  After she paid back the money, her approval rating dropped to 17%

The poll shows Redford’s popularity has been on a steep decline since her expense scandal has surfaced.  In August of 2012 her approval rating was at 58 percent .  In January it had fallen to 35 percent, before dropping to 18 percent in March 2014.

When it comes to the travel expense scandal, the poll shows 55 percent of respondents believe Redford’s actions show bad character, including arrogance and a sense of entitlement.  33 percent believe her actions show bad judgement.  Only 8 percent say she didn’t do anything wrong.

The poll suggests if a provincial election were held tomorrow an overwhelming number of Albertans would vote for a Wildrose candidate.  46 percent of respondents would most likely support Danielle Smith's party with support for the Tories at 19 percent.   Liberal support sits at 16%, support for the NDP at 15%.

The Think HQ poll shows nearly 90 percent of respondents were aware of the controversy surrounding Redford's travel expenses and say recent events have impacted their support of the Premier.

70 percent of respondents said they are much less likely, or somewhat less likely, to vote for the PC Party due to recent events surrounding the Premier's travel expense woes.

The ThinkHQ poll of 1,688 Albertans was conducted between March 10 through March 16, 2014, with a margin of error +/-2.4%.  The questions specifically about Redford’s approval rating before and after she paid back the $45,000 are considered accurate +/- 3.6% before, and 3.2% after she announced she was paying back the $45,000.