PM's popularity rating dips

Photo: Contributed

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's approval has dropped below 50 per cent for first time since election

According to a recent Angus Reid Institute poll, the prime minister's approval rating has taken a dip.

For the first time since being elected, Justin Trudeau's approval rating has dropped below 50 per cent — “half of Canadians (49 per cent) now say they disapprove of the PM.”

Trudeau's disapproval rating is also higher than those of his opponents. 

More Canadians say it is “time for a change” in government (46 per cent) than say Trudeau’s Liberals should be re-elected (32 per cent).

The Angus Reid Institute's quarterly analysis of polling data cities does not attribute the dip to the PM's failure to secure a trade deal with China and having to repeatedly defend Finance Minister Bill Morneau against accusations of unethical behaviour and conflicts of interest.

However, it's not all bad news for the prime minister. The poll shows Trudeau is still more popular than his federal leader counterparts - Conservative leader Andrew Scheer and New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh.

Trudeau’s approval rating has fallen by at least 10 percentage points across all regions and age groups since he became prime minister, and has fallen dramatically in certain regions – notably Quebec and Atlantic Canada – in the last 12 months.

Singh debuts with an approval of 39 per cent of Canadians and the disapproval of 33 per cent (28 per cent are unsure about him). Canadians have a slightly less favourable view of Scheer (35 per cent approve, 36 per cent disapprove, and 29 per cent are unsure)

“The economy” (chosen by 25 per cent of respondents), “the deficit/government spending” (25 per cent), and “health care” (24 per cent) top Canadians’ list of the most important issues facing the country today.