Doug Ford sees bump in latest poll as furor over jet purchase subsides

Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks at a press conference in Toronto, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

New numbers released this week suggest Ontario Premier Doug Ford and his PC party are recovering to some degree after being hammered over a short-lived jet purchase.

“After the previous wave showed a dramatic tightening of the race and deterioration in the government’s standing, this latest data points to at least a partial recovery for the PCs and Premier Doug Ford,” Abacus Data CEO David Coletto said in a statement released with the survey this week.

“The party has widened its lead over the Liberals, Ford’s approval numbers have improved modestly, and his personal image has rebounded from its recent low point.”

According to the survey conducted by Abacus, if a provincial election were held today, 41 per cent of respondents would vote for the PC Party, compared to 31 per cent for the Liberals, 17 per cent for the NDP and five per cent for the Green Party.

That compares to another survey released almost a month ago by Liaison Strategies which showed the PCs trailing the Liberals by two points in the wake of the jet controversy.

“The result marks a meaningful shift from the previous wave, when the PCs and Liberals were statistically tied following a sharp Liberal surge and significant erosion in support for the government,” Coletto said.

He noted the PCs continue to lead in Toronto and the GTHA.

While 37 per cent of respondents approve of the government’s performance, 41 per cent disapprove – an improvement from a month ago, but still in negative territory.

“The government remains underwater overall, and approval levels remain well below where they stood through much of 2025,” Coletto said. “Overall, the data suggest the government has stabilized after a period of unusually negative attention, though not fully recovered.”

Premier Doug Ford’s approval rating was also up slightly in the survey, standing at 37 per cent. That compares to 45 per cent who have a negative view of him.

“That marks an improvement from earlier this month, when his net score had fallen to its lowest point in more than a year amid sustained attention on the jet controversy and broader questions around government accountability,” Coletto said.

According to the survey, NDP Leader Marit Stiles is viewed most favourably by Ontarians, with 33 per cent viewing her positively and 26 per cent viewing her negatively. Some 26 per cent of respondents had a positive view of Interim Liberal Leader John Fraser, while 23 per cent viewed him negatively; 24 per cent had a positive view of Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, while 20 per cent had a negative impression of him.

Ford’s office confirmed the purchase of the used 2016 Bombardier Challenger 650 jet for $28.9 million back in mid-April, saying he needed it to get around the province more easily and to visit the U.S. to drum up business for the province in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade war.

Opposition parties seized on the purchase, accusing the premier of being “out of touch” in the midst of an affordability crisis.

Ford backtracked on the purchase days later following an outcry, saying he heard “loud and clear” from the people, but still insisted it was reasonable.

While the jet was quickly sold back to Bombardier, taxpayers are nevertheless still on the hook for around $200,000 in legal fees and other costs associated with the purchase.

The poll surveyed 1,017 eligible Ontario voters from May 14-20. It is considered accurate to within 3.1 percentage points.