Latest news with #Pollara
Hamilton Spectator
01-06-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Poll reveals who is Canada's most popular premier and who is most disliked
As first ministers gather against the backdrop U.S. President Donald Trump's trade war, a new poll suggests Alberta's Danielle Smith has the highest negatives of any premier. The Pollara Strategic Insights survey also found Ontario's Doug Ford is the country's most popular premier — thanks largely to his stance against Trump's tariffs. 'It's probably that she's been offside on the Team Canada approached to Trump — at least in some people's opinions — and she has raised the spectre of an Alberta referendum, which is obviously not going to be well received outside of Alberta,' Dan Arnold, Pollara's chief strategy officer, said Friday. 'She's potentially looming as a bit of a foil on the national stage,' said Arnold of Smith, who has publicly sparred with Ford over national unity and how to deal with the mercurial American president. Smith — who stressed she does not personally support separation — maintained she will hold a The Ontario premier, on the other hand, has been working closely with Prime Minister Mark Carney and has emerged 'as a bit of a national statesmen in some respects,' the pollster noted. 'Ford's national profile and popularity have really come from ... the 'Canada Is Not For Sale' hat and his tone against Trump,' he said. Using online panels, Pollara surveyed 3,400 people across the country May 16-20. While opt-in polls cannot be assigned a margin of error, for comparison purposes, a random sample of this size would have one of plus or minus 1.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. The firm found 47 per cent of respondents had a positive impression of Ford while 27 per cent had a negative one for a net rating of +19 per cent. In Ontario, the premier, who was reelected Feb. 27 with a third consecutive majority, has a +12 per cent ranking while outside his home province he is at +23 per cent. 'By taking the Captain Canada cape and running with it, he has built up that national profile,' said Arnold. At the other end of the popularity scale, 19 per cent had a positive impression of Smith with 29 per cent negative for a net rate of -10 per cent. In Alberta, where she is dealing with a health contracts scandal and a possible referendum on secession, she was at -5 per cent and was at -12 per cent in the rest of the country. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has a +51 per cent rating at home and +16 per cent in other provinces. Quebec's François Legault, who polls suggest faces a challenging election next year, was at -10 per cent at home and +1 per cent outside his province. The Pollara poll comes as the recently elected Carney is meeting with first ministers in Saskatoon to discuss removing interprovincial trade barriers and expediting construction of 'nation-building projects' like pipelines, mines, ports and energy infrastructure to offset the impact of Trump's tariffs. 'Given that Carney's got Alberta roots ... I think for the next year or two that could be the interesting struggle in our politics — what happens in the midst of a referendum and how does Danielle Smith play in the rest of the country,' said Arnold.
CBC
30-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Amid 51st state taunts, King's popularity in Canada grows
King Charles is enjoying a popularity boost and there is considerably more support for maintaining Canada's ties to the Crown now than when he assumed the throne, according to public opinion polls released this week around his two-day visit to deliver a historic throne speech. After the long-reigning and hugely popular Queen Elizabeth died in 2022, there was talk across the Commonwealth realms, including in Canada, about whether it was time to do away with the Crown and embrace republicanism. The U.K.-based Lord Ashcroft firm released a poll ahead of Charles's coronation showing particularly dire levels of support for the monarchy in Canada, finding this country ranked close to last among the 15 countries that have the King as their head of state. At the time, just 23 per cent of the 2,020 Canadian respondents surveyed as part of that poll said they would vote to keep the Crown if there was a referendum, Lord Ashcroft found. The picture has changed dramatically in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's 51st state taunts and sovereignty threats, which has prompted a revival of national pride and newfound affinity for Canadian institutions and symbols, polls suggest. Also, some people here have gotten to know Charles better and they like what they see, pollsters say. Polling firm Pollara surveyed some 3,400 Canadians between May 20 and 24 and found Charles's popularity in Canada has risen substantially since the last time the firm polled on the issue in 2022, with the number of people holding a positive view of the sovereign up some seven percentage points to 44 per cent and those with a negative view down 10 points to 23 per cent. That growth in personal popularity has fuelled support for Canada remaining a constitutional monarchy, Pollara found, with more respondents saying they want the country to keep the Crown (45 per cent) compared to the number who say they want it gone (39 per cent) — a reversal from the last poll the firm did when a plurality of people reported they want to cut ties. In an interview with CBC News, Dan Arnold, the chief strategy officer at Pollara, said there has been a "statistically significant" increase in support for Charles and maintaining the Crown in Canada. "Canadians are feeling better about the Crown and I would speculate that's probably because they're looking for a little bit of stability in a world that feels unstable right now. And there's nothing more stable than an institution that's been around for multiple centuries," Arnold said. "This is, to some extent, seen as an institution that gives us something in this fight with Trump." He noted that while his numbers still aren't as high as his mother's were, "we see a clear increase in terms of the people who feel good about him and a sharp decline in his negatives." Arnold says Charles's performance as King is part of the reason why. "Charles came to power at a time when there was a lot of controversy around him — anybody who's watched The Crown or followed the news for the last 30 years knows all about that — and he's been able to put some of that behind him or at least tamp it down a bit during his time on the throne," Arnold said, adding Charles's cancer battle may also have prompted some sympathy. An Ipsos poll, also released this week, found 66 per cent of the 1,000 people it surveyed in May say Canada's relationship with the monarchy is useful because it sets us apart from our neighbours to the south who live in a presidential republic — up from 54 per cent who said the same in April 2023. Sixty-five per cent of the Ipsos respondents said the monarchy is an important part of Canada's heritage, up from 58 per cent two years ago. There's also been a drop in respondents who say Canada should cut ties to the Crown, falling from a high of 60 per cent in January 2020 to 46 per cent now — a result roughly in line with what Pollara found. And it's not just polls that suggest Charles is enjoying a better standing in Canada — the monarch drew sizeable crowds throughout Ottawa on his tour with Queen Camilla this week. The turnout was stronger than what greeted him on his 2022 visit, when he came as the Prince of Wales. Thousands of cheering spectators snaked through the parliamentary precinct to catch a glimpse of Charles in the royal landau ahead of his speech, a warm reception that appeared to prompt some emotion from the sovereign. "Royals don't normally 'do' emotion, at least they do their very best to hide whatever feeling they have. But for some reason, King Charles seemed unable to do that on this occasion at the end of a short, but highly significant, visit," British broadcaster ITV noted in its coverage of the speech. "It was the warmest of welcomes and the fondest of returns to a nation and a people we love," Charles and Camilla themselves said in a joint statement released after their visit. John Fraser, the founding president of the Institute for the Study of the Crown in Canada, said he doesn't pay much attention to polls — support for the monarchy can go up and down depending on what's going on in the news. But Fraser said it is evident that more people are rallying around the Crown now than they were just a few years ago. "Mr. Chrétien was on to something when he said we should give the Order of Canada to Trump," Fraser said in an interview referring to the former prime minister's quip, adding that the Trump factor has breathed new life into many Canadian institutions, not just the monarchy. "The president may well have given the Crown in Canada a leg up," he said. WATCH | Charles on the True North 'strong and free': 'The true north is, indeed, strong and free,' says King Charles in throne speech 3 days ago Duration 1:32 King Charles received a long round of applause on Tuesday in the Senate as he cited Canada's national anthem, saying the song reminds us, 'the true north is, indeed, strong and free.' Charles's Canadian sovereignty talk in the throne speech this week — and his pledge that the country is "indeed" the True North "strong and free" — also likely gave the Crown's standing a boost, Fraser said, especially among people who were clamouring to see the head of state say something as the country faces Trump's annexationist musings. "I thought he handled himself impeccably," he said. "This throne speech really cemented Charles's role in Canada," added Robert Finch, the chairman of the Monarchist League of Canada. "I've always said the real threat against the monarchy isn't republicanism per se but apathy. Well, after this week, there's a real sense of renewed interest in this institution." He said republicans were counting on an unpopular King Charles to sever Canada's ties to the monarchy. "I just don't think that's going to present itself now," Finch said. "There are certain moments in history that can make or break something and I think this particular tour, in some part due to the timing and the Trump factor, helped make King Charles's position in Canada secure and for that I'm very grateful." Still, some chafed at the idea of Charles taking a stand for Canada in the face of Trump.
Calgary Herald
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Calgary Herald
Poll shows Albertans support monarchy, despite growing separatist threat
Article content OTTAWA — A new poll shows that Albertans support the continuation of Crown rule in the province, even as they're increasingly skeptical about the province's future in Canada. Article content Article content The poll, taken by Pollara Strategic Insights, finds that support for the monarchy is at a net plus-nine in Alberta, with 46 per cent of Albertans saying that Canada should remain a constitutional monarchy with the King as its head of state, and 37 per cent saying it should ditch the Crown. Article content Article content This put Alberta three points ahead of British Columbia and 42 points ahead of Quebec, where just 25 per cent of respondents said Canada should keep its ties to the monarchy. Article content Article content Dan Arnold, the chief strategy officer at Pollara, says he expects the question of the monarchy to loom larger as separatists get into the nitty gritty of what an independent Alberta would look like. Article content 'There's a lot of hanging questions out there and this is another one that could potentially become a source of friction,' said Arnold. Article content Debate has recently surfaced online about whether residents of an independent Alberta would have an option to keep Canadian passports and stay enrolled in the CPP, for example. Article content Arnold noted that supporters of the governing United Conservative Party were a net plus-10 in favour of the continuation of Crown rule (48 per cent to 38 per cent). Article content Article content Recent polls show up to two-thirds of UCP voters would vote 'yes' in a referendum on Alberta independence. Article content Article content The Pollara poll, taken on the heels of King Charles III's first visit to Canada as monarch this week, finds the king has a net favourability rating of plus-22 among Albertans — 46 per cent view him positively while 24 per cent view him negatively. Article content The findings were drawn from on online sample of 500 Albertans contacted between May 16 and 20, with an estimated margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.4 per cent. Article content 'There are a lot of people in our movement who are either monarchists, or at the very least ambivalent to the continued role of the monarchy within the Commonwealth of Alberta,' Rath told the National Post in an interview.
Vancouver Sun
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Vancouver Sun
Poll shows Albertans support monarchy, despite growing separatist threat
OTTAWA — A new poll shows that Albertans support the continuation of Crown rule in the province, even as they're increasingly skeptical about the province's future in Canada . The poll, taken by Pollara Strategic Insights, finds that support for the monarchy is at a net plus-nine in Alberta, with 46 per cent of Albertans saying that Canada should remain a constitutional monarchy with the king as its head of state, and 37 per cent saying it should ditch the Crown. This put Alberta three points ahead of British Columbia and 42 points ahead of Quebec, where just 25 per cent of respondents said Canada should keep its ties to the monarchy. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Dan Arnold, the chief strategy officer at Pollara, says he expects the question of the monarchy to loom larger as separatists get into the nitty gritty of what an independent Alberta would look like. 'There's a lot of hanging questions out there and this is another one that could potentially become a source of friction,' said Arnold. Debate has recently surfaced online about whether residents of an independent Alberta would have an option to keep Canadian passports and stay enrolled in the CPP, for example. Arnold noted that supporters of the governing United Conservative Party were a net plus-10 in favour of the continuation of Crown rule (48 per cent to 38 per cent). Recent polls show up to two-thirds of UCP voters would vote 'yes' in a referendum on Alberta independence. The Pollara poll, taken on the heels of King Charles III's first visit to Canada as monarch this week, finds the king has a net favourability rating of plus-22 among Albertans — 46 per cent view him positively while 24 per cent view him negatively. The findings were drawn from on online sample of 500 Albertans contacted between May 16 and 20, with an estimated margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.4 per cent. Jeff Rath, a lawyer with the Alberta Prosperity Project, says there's room for both monarchists and republicans in the Alberta separatist movement. 'There are a lot of people in our movement who are either monarchists, or at the very least ambivalent to the continued role of the monarchy within the Commonwealth of Alberta,' Rath told the National Post in an interview. Rath, who's worked extensively in treaty law, says the Crown could be a bridge to Alberta's Indigenous population during the transition to independence. 'If one of the conditions the First Nations put on independence is… instead of having a (civilian) head of state we talk to King Charles and have a Governor General, so that they can maintain that relationship with the Crown and their treaties, I personally wouldn't have any issue with that,' said Rath. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said that any referendum question on the province's independence must respect the existing treaty rights of First Nations . Philippe Lagassé, an expert in Canadian constitutional law at Carleton University, says it won't be easy for Alberta to go over Ottawa's head and deal directly with the king. 'The treaties are now understood to be with the Canadian Crown, not the British one… I suspect these treaties would come into play in a significant way were Alberta to try to secede,' said Lagassé. Cameron Davies, leader of the Republican Party of Alberta, says he disagrees with Rath and wants to cut all ties to Westminster. 'The Republican Party of Alberta believes our future should be shaped here—by Albertans—not Ottawa, not Buckingham Palace,' wrote Davies in an email. 'The monarchy represents a colonial legacy and an unelected institution rooted in hereditary privilege—values that have no place in a modern, democratic Alberta.' The poll's findings were drawn from on online sample of 500 Albertans contacted between May 16 and 20, with an estimated margin of error of plus-or-minus 4.4 per cent National Post rmohamed@ Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
National Post
26-05-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Poll shows Albertans support monarchy, despite growing separatist threat
OTTAWA — A new poll shows that Albertans support the continuation of Crown rule in the province, even as they're increasingly skeptical about the province's future in Canada. Article content Article content The poll, taken by Pollara Strategic Insights, finds that support for the monarchy is at a net plus-nine in Alberta, with 46 per cent of Albertans saying that Canada should remain a constitutional monarchy with the king as its head of state, and 37 per cent saying it should ditch the Crown. Article content This put Alberta three points ahead of British Columbia and 42 points ahead of Quebec, where just 25 per cent of respondents said Canada should keep its ties to the monarchy. Article content Dan Arnold, the chief strategy officer at Pollara, says he expects the question of the monarchy to loom larger as separatists get into the nitty gritty of what an independent Alberta would look like. Article content 'There's a lot of hanging questions out there and this is another one that could potentially become a source of friction,' said Arnold. Article content Debate has recently surfaced online about whether residents of an independent Alberta would have an option to keep Canadian passports and stay enrolled in the CPP, for example. Article content Arnold noted that supporters of the governing United Conservative Party were a net plus-10 in favour of the continuation of Crown rule (48 per cent to 38 per cent). Article content Recent polls show up to two-thirds of UCP voters would vote 'yes' in a referendum on Alberta independence. Article content Jeff Rath, a lawyer with the Alberta Prosperity Project, says there's room for both monarchists and republicans in the Alberta separatist movement. Article content Article content 'There are a lot of people in our movement who are either monarchists, or at the very least ambivalent to the continued role of the monarchy within the Commonwealth of Alberta,' Rath told the National Post in an interview. Article content Rath, who's worked extensively in treaty law, says the Crown could be a bridge to Alberta's Indigenous population during the transition to independence. Article content 'If one of the conditions the First Nations put on independence is… instead of having a (civilian) head of state we talk to King Charles and have a Governor General, so that they can maintain that relationship with the Crown and their treaties, I personally wouldn't have any issue with that,' said Rath.
