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Kenney's performance rating during pandemic plummets: survey

Last Updated Apr 9, 2021 at 11:39 am MDT

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney comments on the Teck mine decision in Edmonton on Monday, Feb. 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – It appears Albertans are not looking favourably at the premier’s role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Friday, the Angus Reid Institute released a survey showing Canadians across the board are overall not happy with how their political leaders have handled the COVID-19 situation, especially with the third wave already starting.

The numbers are particularly grim for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney who drew in at 75 per cent disapproval, the highest of any province in the country.

The survey compared the approval ratings of each premier since April of last year, during the first weeks of the pandemic. Back then, about 86 per cent of Albertans polled believed Kenney was doing a good job. That number has plummeted to 23 per cent after hitting 70 per cent in November.

Other premiers also saw a drastic decrease over the past year including Ontario’s Doug Ford and Manitoba’s Brian Pallister at 32 and 37 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, those in Atlantic Canada have a more positive opinion on their leaders with 73 per cent currently approving of their premiers’ work during the pandemic.

The survey also compared the approval ratings of the chief medical officer of health with each province, except Quebec, and respondents looked more kindly toward their work over that of their premier. Those polled in Quebec showed even support for both parties.

In Alberta, Dr. Deena Hinshaw received twice the praise from Albertans at 46 per cent.

However, that number is also down from just over 80 per cent in April 2020. Once again, the Atlantic provinces had the highest approval for their top doctors at 83 per cent.

The Angus Reid survey also looked at how Canadians view the current restrictions in place to fight COVID-19 with 48 per cent of those polled believing they don’t go far enough. About 42 per cent of Albertans felt the same way while 48 per cent believed the restrictions are too much.