Eby sees approval rating fall to new low, finds latest poll

A new poll shows Premier David Eby’s approval has dropped to its lowest rating since he took office.

The Angus Reid Institute poll released Tuesday said Eby’s approval dropped to 41 per cent, as his rating declines for two straight quarters.

It comes as British Columbia faces a projected deficit of more than $10 billion, and an escalating strike of public service workers with the B.C. General Employees Union. 

Eby has taken a tone of fiscal restraint, saying the Public Service Agency will need to find a deal with the union that is fair to taxpayers. 

“We know that the government’s fiscal situation isn’t caused by the public service,” BCGEU President Paul Finch said at a Victoria picket line last week. “What created this deficit is poor governance, overspending on capital projects, tax breaks for the wealthy [and] tax breaks on key resource projects that every British Columbian should be receiving benefits from.”

The poll also noted backlash in recent months over the province’s decision to stop funding drug treatments for Charleigh Pollock, a Vancouver Island girl with a rare, terminal disease. The province ultimately restored funding for the girl’s treatment. Supporters saw it as a victory for Charleigh’s family, who had spent weeks pressing the government to reconsider. But the reversal also prompted the resignation of several members of the expert committee that informed the original decision to cut funding.

Eby’s B.C. NDP government has also faced some backlash after B.C. Ferries’ decision in June to contract a Chinese state-owned shipyard to build four new major vessels. B.C. Ferries operates as a private company, with the province as its sole shareholder.

Eby said at the time it was concerning that no Canadian companies bid on the contract. But he also defended the move, saying the vessels are “urgently needed,” and the province cannot risk a service breakdown.

Compared to other provincial premiers, Eby ranks third-last in the latest poll. 

Quebec Premier Francois Legault had the lowest rating, with just one-in-five Quebecers indicating they approved of the Coalition Avenir Québec leader. 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford saw his approval climb to pull even with Eby at 41 per cent. 

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew maintained the highest approval rating at 61 per cent. 

The online survey was conducted from Aug. 28 to Sept. 5, 2025, among a randomized sample of 4,045 Canadian adults who are members of Angus Reid Forum.