Every few months, Leger, conducts a study on the performance of the Alberta government. This time, the study was conducted between January 24 and 26, 2025.
Executive Summary
More than six months after the May 2024 Alberta election, Leger polling data indicates there has been some subtle shifting of the political environment over the last 6 months. The UCP has increased in support slightly (3 pts) while the provincial NDP have remained virtually flat (dropped 1 pt) over the same period. One reason behind the UCP increase in voting support may be the spike in the approval of Premier’s Smith’s performance.
Premier Danielle Smith’s approval rating has risen by 7 percentage points since August 2024, solidifying her standing as the most approved provincial leader. Meanwhile, NDP leader Naheed Nenshi’s approval has declined slightly, though he remains the second-most popular party leader. Approval ratings for other Alberta party leaders continue to lag significantly, with none exceeding 13%.
Albertans continue to cite healthcare as the most pressing issue facing the province, a position it has held for years. Inflation and rising interest rates, which dominated public concerns in 2023, have been trending downwards in urgency, while housing affordability has maintained its high importance, overtaking the economy for the third spot. Additionally, following the election of U.S. President Donald Trump and his proposed tariffs against Canada, nearly one-in-ten Albertans now consider trade and tariff issues the top provincial concerns.
Despite these shifting concerns, the government’s approval ratings remain mixed. Approval for handling wildfire evacuations and energy policy is higher than Premier Smith’s own 46% approval rating. However, more than half of Albertans disapprove of the UCP’s handling of critical issues such as healthcare, homelessness, poverty, housing affordability, and crime.
Public sentiment on Alberta’s overall trajectory remains divided, with 40% of residents believing the province is headed in the right direction, while just over half say it is on the wrong track—figures largely unchanged since August 2024. Albertans are also skeptical about a proposed Alberta Pension Plan, with a majority continuing to oppose the idea.
At the federal level, Alberta remains a stronghold for Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party, which commands nearly two-thirds of the vote. The federal NDP ranks a distant second, with the Liberals trailing closely behind. Federal voting intentions remain virtually unchanged from August 2024.
Methodology
This web survey was conducted from January 24 to 26, 2025, with 1,002 Albertans aged 18 or older, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey. For comparison, a probability sample of 1,005 respondents would have a margin of error of ±3.1 %, 19 times out of 20.
