The poll, conducted by Research Co., found that 30 percent of respondents say both the current prime minister and his predecessor, Stephen Harper (2006-2015), in second place, are the most unpopular people to hold office.
However, the survey also found that Harper is far more popular in Alberta.
“More than a third of Albertans (36 percent) believe Stephen Harper was Canada’s best recent prime minister,” said Mario Canseco, president of Research Co.
As for Atlantic Canadians, 32 percent of them named Harper as Canada’s worst recent leader.
In Alberta, Justin Trudeau’s negative rating is 45 percent, while in British Columbia it is 36 percent and in Saskatchewan and Manitoba it is 36 percent.
On the other hand, 20 percent of Canadians believe Pierre Trudeau is the best prime minister since 1968, up one point from a similar poll in June 2022.
“Pierre Trudeau does better in British Columbia (27 percent), Ontario (23 percent) and Atlantic Canada (22 percent),” the study points out.
According to the poll, Kim Campbell (7 percent), the first woman to become Canada’s prime minister from June 25 to November 3, 1993, is the least popular Canadian prime minister, along with Trudeau and Harper; and Brian Mulroney (6 percent), who held that position from 1984 to 1993.
The poll also included questions about ten different politicians who have served as leaders of Ottawa’s official opposition over the past five decades.
The results show that 48 percent (down four points) of Canadians believe former NDP leader Jack Layton would have been a “very good” or “good” prime minister, and 61 percent of respondents over the age of 55 share this view.
rgh/adr