Alberta Premier Smith’s approval rating drops to lowest ever: survey

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s approval rating has taken a hit, according to a new Angus Reid survey — an all-time low since she was first elected.

The survey released Thursday says only 39 per cent of respondents approve of her leadership. At the centre of that drop is the separation referendum.

The seven per cent drop marks her lowest approval rating as premier — a far cry from the 51 per cent support she garnered in June 2025, and below the mid-40s, where her approval had been hovering.

However, seven in 10 of those who voted for the United Conservatives in the last election say they approve, with only a quarter disagreeing.

At a press conference outlining their commitments to affordability, the leader of the Alberta NDP says the premier hasn’t given Albertans much reason for approval.

“People are tired of her endless distractions, her endless culture wars; they’re tired of a separation referendum that they don’t want,” said Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi.

Meanwhile, the premier has recently touted the province’s success in areas like employment growth.

The Angus Reid survey lays blame for the decrease at governance fatigue, economic pressure and the continued discussion of separation, citing an “apparent” unsuccessful attempt at threading the needle on appeasing both sides of the debate.

“It appears as though Danielle Smith is really struggling to try to respond and keep up with the criticism that she’s facing. Not just in alberta, but from outside as well, as we saw with the Western Premiers’ conference,” said Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who leads the country with the highest approval rating, called out the premier during the conference when she claimed the judge’s ruling on consultations in relation to citizen-initiated petitions was wrong.

He then said he agreed with the judge’s ruling, with Smith responding that she respected the “difference of opinion.”

Some in the separatist movement, including those who led the petition campaign, have said the premier’s referendum on a referendum is a betrayal of UCP members who want Alberta to go it alone.

Smith has said her party supports Alberta staying in Canada and that she will vote accordingly. She has defended the fall referendum as a way to still give those who signed the petition a voice.

Chief Allan Adam of Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, which was part of the group that challenged the petition, said the province’s decision to appeal is disappointing.

Meanwhile, Smith isn’t alone in seeing a decrease in approval. The survey says political discontent may be growing across the country.

With files from The Canadian Press