Manitoba premier maintains highest approval rating in Canada: poll

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew speaks at a press conference before signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Ontario Premier Doug Ford at Queen’s Park in Toronto on May 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Laura Proctor

Premier Wab Kinew continues to have the highest approval rating among premiers, according to new data from the Angus Reid Institute.

The numbers on premiers’ performance for September reveal that Kinew’s approval rating sits at 61 per cent, followed by Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston in second place with a 53 per cent approval rating.

Despite maintaining the highest approval rating, Kinew has seen his popularity “significantly drop for the first time” since becoming Manitoba’s premier in October 2023, according to the report.

Kinew’s approval rating is down seven per cent from its all-time high of 68 per cent in June, per the report from the nonprofit and nonpartisan public opinion research foundation.

The proportion of Manitobans who strongly approve of Kinew’s performance—22 per cent—is also down by 12 percentage points since June.

The report notes that the premier has received criticism for delaying the Spruce Woods byelection and was questioned over the timing of more than $300 million in spending in the area prior to the byelection being held.

Meanwhile, New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt has the third-highest approval rating at 52 per cent, followed by Newfoundland and Labrador Premier John Hogan. Both premiers assumed office less than a year ago.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and British Columbia Premier David Eby both sport the second-lowest approval rating in the nation—tied at 41 percent.

The report notes that Quebec Premier François Legault has the lowest approval rating at 22 per cent, down to an all-time low since he took office in 2018. Legault now stares down “disastrous defeat” with 13 months before the province’s scheduled election, according to the Angus Reid Institute.

The full report can be viewed online.