François Legault still dominates the list of the most popular politicians, but Quebecers’ love for their prime minister is waning. In the last six months, popular esteem for François Legault has fallen by 7% and he has generated more negative opinions. The loss of power is slowly becoming noticeable in the ranks of the CAQ government, which at the beginning of its second term in office broke campaign promises and made unpopular decisions. Several of his ministers see their star waning with the electorate. Three of them are still among Quebec’s least loved politicians. Meanwhile, Justin Trudeau continues to divide citizens. If many citizens like him, they are even more likely to have a bad opinion of the Canadian prime minister, according to a Léger poll conducted on behalf of the Canadian prime minister Protocol.
hated politicians
The Minister for Cybersecurity and Digital, Éric Caire Photo Archive, QMI Agency
The award for Quebec’s most unloved politician is still given to conservative leader Éric Duhaime, who is hated by 61% of citizens and liked by just 20%. He is well ahead of his closest rival Éric Caire at the top. Since the election, pitfalls have mounted for the Minister of Cybersecurity and Digital, who is struggling to steer the state’s digital transformation. Bringing up the rear are Justin Trudeau and CAQ Ministers Pierre Fitzgibbon and Bernard Drainville. “When more people hate you [que de gens] People who love you are because you’re doing something wrong, says pollster Jean-Marc Léger. When Éric Caire or Pierre Fitzgibbon appear on screen, people switch positions. If the rating is negative, you have to ask yourself existential questions.
The wear and tear of power
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Geneviève Guilbault. Photo archive Didier Debusschère
The first Caquiste trio, made up of François Legault, Christian Dubé (-6%) and Geneviève Guilbault (-7%), is still at the top but has lost ground among the population compared to last December’s survey. In particular, the transport minister sounded the death knell for the third motorway connection. This also applies to Finance Minister Eric Girard and Minister for Sustainable Development and Environment Benoît Charrette. The only one gaining popularity is Public Security Minister François Bonnardel (+4), who has been on the front lines in recent months due to floods and forest fires. “It’s called the erosion of power, with the caveat that they’re still very popular, but everything is going downhill,” notes the president of the Léger company. Meanwhile, their political opponents are gaining points. Parti Québécois Paul St-Pierre Plamondon and Solidarity Manon Massé and Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois are doing well with the Quebecers.
Valérie Plante is more appreciated outside of Montreal
Archives/QMI Agency, Mario Beauregard
Mayor Valérie Plante is popular among Quebecers and more attractive… outside of Montreal. Although she has won the hearts of 45% of Montrealers, 44% have a bad opinion of her. One in two residents of the Quebec City region appreciates it and their regional love rating is even higher (61%). What is less known is that the mayor of the state capital, Bruno Marchand, still achieves a good result (30%). But it is Longueuil’s first judge, Catherine Fournier, who has seen the biggest climb up the list of favorite politicians in the past six months. Now no less than 31% of people believe her, and only 9% have a negative opinion of the former MP.
Melanie Joly in front of Justin Trudeau
Photo archive, QMI Agency
Federal Minister Mélanie Joly confirms her status as Quebecers’ favorite politician in Ottawa. If his leader also appears on the list of most popular people, Canada’s prime minister is far more controversial. In fact, it evokes more negative than positive opinions. “The majority of people have a bad opinion of Justin Trudeau. It’s always ironic, but there are 6% of Quebecers who don’t know Justin Trudeau!” underlines the pollster Jean-Marc Léger. The other prominent member of the federal government is Environment Secretary Steven Guilbault, whom 30% of citizens like. Block leader Yves-François Blanchet also does well, ranking ninth among the most popular.
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methodology
The web survey was conducted June 9-12, 2023 among 1042 Quebecers aged 18 and over. The maximum margin of error is plus or minus 3.03%.