WINNIPEG – A new opinion poll suggests Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger’s approval rating is at an all-time low, with some of the worst numbers one political analyst has seen.
Only 17 per cent of respondents to the Angus Reid survey said they approve of Selinger’s performance, down from 30 per cent from a similar poll in September.
Pollster Chris Adams said the numbers are some of the worst he’s seen.
“I have never seen numbers like this in Manitoba,” said Adams, “not since polling was regularly done in 1990s.”
Selinger has been fending off a revolt by some caucus members, including five former cabinet ministers who resigned their portfolios last month.
A spokesperson for the premier said the current poll is not surprising given “it was taken during an unsettled time in the party, including days leading up to Dec. 6 when there was a motion to have the premier step down, which was soundly defeated.”
Adams said it’s not necessarily over for Selinger, but a lot of things need to happen to change public opinion.
“If they were to rethink the PST and unite together by whomever is made leader or kept on as leader in March, and if the PCs perform poorly in upcoming session, they could reverse their fortunes,” said Adams.
The premier will have his leadership put to the test during the NDP convention in March, although it’s not clear if anyone will run against him. Theresa Oswald, one of the five ministers who resigned and one of the names repeatedly brought up as a possible contender, said in an email Tuesday that she still hasn’t made a decision.
Selinger was not available for comment and in a statement did not address the poll numbers.
“I’m focused on continuing to govern this province. I’m focused on Manitoban’s priorities. The economy is doing well, we’re building important infrastructure throughout the province, we’re creating new opportunities for education and training that lead to good jobs, and we’re protecting frontline services for all Manitobans,” the statement said.
Angus Reid surveyed 800 Manitobans between Dec. 4 and 13 as part of an online panel.
The polling industry’s professional body, the Marketing Research and Intelligence Association, says online surveys cannot be assigned a margin of error as they are not a random sample, and therefore are not necessarily representative of the whole population.
— With files from the Canadian Press
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