CALGARY- The controversy over Premier Alison Redford’s travel expenses and the resignation of two MLAs from the Conservative caucus have taken a toll on the PC party, according to a new poll.
A survey released Wednesday by ThinkHQ Public Affairs found if an election were held today, only 19 per cent of decided voters would support Alberta’s Tories.
The poll puts support for the Wildrose party at 46 per cent, up eight per cent from a poll in January.
Above: Graphic showing voter support for Alberta’s four main political parties.
Redford has also taken a big hit in approval ratings. 18 per cent of those surveyed approve of her leadership, the lowest approval rating of all four party leaders and the lowest approval rating an Alberta premier has received since the days of Don Getty, who served as Alberta premier between 1985 and 1992. In contrast, 51 per cent approve of Wildrose leader Danielle Smith.
Above: approval ratings for the leaders of Alberta’s four main political parties.
Other findings of the ThinkHQ poll:
- 90 per cent of Albertans are aware of the controversy surrounding Redford’s travel expenses; 70 per cent are less likely to vote for the PCs as a result .
- 55 per cent agree Redford’s travel controversy demonstrates bad character versus the 33 per cent who think it shows bad judgement.
- 8 per cent said the premier didn’t do anything wrong.
The poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.4% with 1688 people surveyed between March 10 and March 16, the same week Redford announced she was paying back the $45,000 travel tab for Nelson Mandela’s funeral in South Africa.
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