Approval of Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe sat at 45 per cent in the latest Angus Reid Institute survey. (Lisa Schick/980 CJME)

By CKOM

Approval Numbers

Moe’s approval falls to 45 per cent ahead of fall election: Angus Reid

Sep 19, 2024 | 10:16 AM

With Saskatchewan’s provincial election looming, Premier Scott Moe’s approval rating has fallen to 45 per cent.

That’s according to the latest premier approval numbers from the Angus Reid Institute, which polled 3,985 Canadians between Sept. 12 and 18.

His approval in June was 49 per cent.

That puts the Saskatchewan Party leader at his lowest approval rating since March 2022, though he remains the fifth most popular premier in the country, according to the poll. Moe’s lowest-ever approval rating came in September of 2021, when it dipped to 43 per cent. His highest approval rating was in March of 2020, when 66 per cent approved of Moe’s performance.

Moe’s most recent approval rating put Saskatchewan’s premier just behind Alberta’s Danielle Smith, Newfoundland’s Andrew Furey and British Columbia’s David Eby, who all came in at 46 per cent approval, a single point ahead of Moe. Manitoba’s Wab Kinew was the most popular premier in the survey, with 66 per cent approval, while New Brunswick’s Blaine Higgs was at the bottom with just 30 per cent approval.

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The dip in Moe’s popularity comes ahead of Saskatchewan’s provincial election, which must be held on or before October 28.

While the election has not officially been declared, the Saskatchewan NPD has been in full campaign mode, hitting the Moe government hard on issues around affordability and health care.

“Political contests in Saskatchewan have not been particularly competitive in recent years, with the Saskatchewan Party coasting to comfortable majorities in four consecutive elections since 2007. And while the incumbent party does look to have the inside lane over the opposition NDP, the gap between the two parties was seven points in August, the closest the two have been since the last election,” the Angus Reid Institute wrote.

“Ultimately, both the Saskatchewan Party and Saskatchewan NDP will have the opportunity to campaign and strengthen their positions on the top issues facing the province – health care, the cost of living, and the economy.”

In reaction to the study, the Sask NDP issued a press release Thursday morning saying two thirds of people, including a majority living outside of Regina and Saskatoon, believe that the Sask. Party has performed poorly on three of the top issues, healthcare (66 per cent), the cost of living (66 per cent), and public safety (67 per cent).

“Scott Moe is now just as unpopular as his predecessor was before he resigned. Brad Wall’s approval rating Brad Walls approval rating sharply declined to 45 per cent in his final months as Premier after he raised taxes and cut services. If the trend line continues, Moe could hit an all-time low in terms of popularity on election day,” read the NDP release.

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