Ford calls poll ranking him Canada's least popular premier 'fake'

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has publicly dismissed a recent poll by the Angus Reid Institute that placed his approval rating at its lowest point since he took office in 2018. The poll indicated a significant 10-point drop in his support between March and June, leaving him with only 21 percent approval.

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They put this fake poll out. They poll the NDP and Liberal caucus.

The Angus Reid Institute attributed the decline to "economic pressure and self-inflicted wounds." In response, Ford claimed the poll was "fake," suggesting it was influenced by opposition politicians. "They put this fake poll out. They poll the NDP and Liberal caucus," he stated at an event in Thunder Bay.

Ford asserted that his own polling data presents a different picture, showing 41 percent support and predicting a "massive majority" win if an election were held today. The Angus Reid Institute defended its methodology, emphasizing its decade-long practice of measuring provincial premier performance approval quarterly "without fear or favour."

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Our polling, along with other polling show, since you brought it up, I don’t like boasting and bragging, if an election was held today, we’re at 41 per cent, we’d win a massive majority once again.

The premier's popularity has fluctuated significantly. He reached a high of 69 percent in early 2020 but saw a sharp decline to 30 percent by January 2022. A notable dip occurred in September 2023 after he was forced to reverse his Greenbelt landswap policy and apologize. His popularity saw a temporary rise in early 2025 amid trade tariff threats and his "Captain Canada" persona. However, public support for his Progressive Conservative party has steadily declined since early 2026, entering its eighth year in office. While average support of 40 percent would still secure a majority, margins are tightening, with the leaderless Liberals gaining ground.

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The Angus Reid Institute has measured provincial premier performance approval for more than a decade. We have done this on a quarterly basis without fear or favour.