As Ontario’s government prepares to further review the Greenbelt, including the lands at the centre of the ongoing controversy, Premier Doug Ford’s personal approval continues to sink.
New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute finds that amid ongoing criticism, fewer than three-in-ten (28%) approve of Ford. Two-thirds (67%) of constituents, including one-in-three (36%) who voted for his party just last year, hold negative opinions of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario leader.
Much of this criticism is propelled by a widespread sense that land swaps in the Greenbelt were done iniquitously, offering preferential treatment to certain developers, rather than utilizing fair process. Ford, himself, has resisted much of this characterisation, but accepted that better process is needed, stating this week that his government will re-evaluate the land swaps themselves, and review how it handles these deals going forward.
While Ontarians await the results of this, Ford’s rivals are attempting to capitalize and break through in the province, something both the Ontario Liberals and Ontario New Democrats have been unable to do over the past five years.
Among new Liberal leadership candidates, only Bonnie Crombie is recognizable to more than 30 per cent of those who say they would consider the Liberals in a future provincial election.
With the Liberal Party in flux, and the Ontario NDP failing thus far to resonate with many voters under opposition leader Marit Stiles, Ford’s Progressive Conservatives appear to be weathering the proverbial storm. Indeed, two-in-five (38%) Ontario residents say they would vote for the PCPO if an election were held, a ten-point lead over the opposition NDP (28%) and a 16-point advantage over the Liberals (22%).
However despite its vote intention lead, four-in-five Ontarians feel the government has performed poorly on inflation (81%), health care (77%), and housing affordability (85%), the top three issues chosen by residents in the province.
Seven-in-ten (71%) believe the Greenbelt was protected for a reason and there should be no development on its lands. One-in-five (22%) believe the province’s affordable housing crisis requires considering development on the protected lands.
Ford’s approval falls to 63 per cent among 2022 PCPO voters, a 17-point drop compared to data recorded in June.
