Christy Clark a distant 3rd

Photo: Angus Reid

Christy Clark is Canada's third most popular premier – "albeit a distant third," finds a new poll.

The Angus Reid poll notes that with six months to a provincial election, the political stakes in B.C. are becoming higher.

Issues noted by the well-known polling company include Kinder Morgan’s TransMountain pipeline and the deepening fentanyl crisis. 

"Clark maintains the approval of just over one-in-three (35 per cent) people in B.C., statistically unchanged since September (34 per cent)," says Angus Reid.

Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall and Manitoba’s Brian Pallister boasted the highest approval ratings, with Wall at 58 per cent and Pallister at 46 per cent.

Meanwhile, Ontario premier Kathleen Wynn is taking a public-opinion beating. 

"Beleaguered by the fallout of her government’s sale of Hydro One and under pressure from the Ontario auditor general for not spending the proceeds of that sale in the most effective way possible – Premier Kathleen Wynne’s job performance approval among Ontarians has dropped to 16 per cent," says Angus Reid.

It's an all-time low since her February 2013 swearing-in as premier.

For most leaders, the trend across the country is stability.

"As 2016 draws to a close, most premiers find their approval ratings relatively stable as somewhat cynical provincial electorates leave neither candy nor coal in the stockings of their provincial leaders," says Angus Reid.

The online survey of 5,300 Canadian adults was taken Dec. 5-1, and it carries a margin of error of +/- two per cent, 19 times out of 20. 

Photo: Angus Reid