News from Abacus Data Ontario
Posted June 16th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
Ontario Premier Doug Ford appears to be hitting the mark with many in the province
(A Brief Foreword from Doug Draper at Niagara At Large – You might think that with all of the public concern being expressed over funding (or lack thereof) for education and health care.
Then there are all of the concerns that have been raised by individual citizens and citizens groups alike over energy plans that pay little or no attention to renewable sources of and energy, and over legislation the Ford government is pushing ahead with that potentially threatens our natural heritage, including the quality of our air and water – just to mention a few key issues – that the Ford government’s approval ratings would be tanking.
However, if this public opinion survey is accurate, there are a lot of people out there who are either not paying attention or who like what Doug Ford and company are doing.
Also surprising in this poll is how much it shows approval for the NDP falling despite the hard work the party does to critique the Ford government’s actions and put forward solutions of its own.
Overall, those of us who are more progressive, liberal or left-leaning members of the population may need to come to terms with the possibility that we live in a far more right-wing province than we may care to imagine.)
Now here is the news on the poll –
In our first survey of Ontario public opinion since the February provincial election, we find Premier Doug Ford and the Progressive Conservatives in an enviable position.
With a solid majority under their belt, a largely disinterested opposition, and a public more preoccupied with economic uncertainty and global affairs than provincial scandal or friction, the Ford government is benefiting from both competence perceptions and a remarkably quiet political environment.
The numbers speak for themselves.
If an election were held today, 49 percent of committed voters in Ontario say they would vote for the Progressive Conservatives, up four points since the last survey we conducted just before the election in February.
The Ontario Liberals sit at 28 percent, down slightly by one point, while the NDP has fallen to 14 percent, a two-point drop. The Greens hold steady at 5 percent, and other parties account for 4 percent.
These are not small margins. A 21-point lead over the second-place Liberals is rare in any political context. But for a third-term government battling economic insecurity, it is even more remarkable.
Ford’s Approval Hits a High
When we look beyond vote intention to overall job approval, the results are equally impressive. Today, 44 percent of Ontarians approve of the job Ford and his government are doing, up two points since our January tracking and the highest we have measured since August 2023. Disapproval stands at 31 percent, down three points from earlier this year.
The trend line tells the story. Since late 2023, Ford’s approval numbers have steadily improved. After dipping in the fall, evaluations of the Premier and his government began to recover just ahead of the February election. Since then, they have continued to climb. What we are seeing now is the best standing for the Ford government in nearly two years (and likely since it was elected in 2018).
About Abacus Data Ontario – We’re strategic thinkers, storytellers and data experts focused on digging in to the unknown and anticipating where things will be to equip our clients with the tools they need to succeed. We achieve this through a combination of our experience, broad understanding of the economic, political, social, and labour worlds, and with the best qualitative and quantitative research in North American that includes designing and executing surveys, focus groups, in-depth interviews, and online research communities.
To visit this news online, click on – https://abacusdata.ca/abacus-data-ontario-poll-ford-government-approval-hits-new-high-pcs-lead-by-21/
NIAGARA AT LARGE Encourages You To Join The Conversation By Sharing Your Views On This Post In The Space Following The Bernie Sanders Quote Below.
“A Politician Thinks Of The Next Election. A Leader Thinks Of The Next Generation.” – Bernie Sanders
Niagara At Large 