Danielle Smith hits 51% approval, highest since 2022 election: Angus Reid

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s approval has climbed above half for the first time since becoming premier in 2022, according to new data.

Polling from the Angus Reid Institute released Thursday shows declining approval rates for seven provincial premiers, with only Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Smith seeing increases month-over month.

Kinew is the top rated Canadian premier as of June, with a 68 per cent approval rating. Despite climbing five points since May, Smith sits at just fourth of nine with 51 per cent.

Cracking the halfway mark is a significant milestone for the United Conservative Party premier, who has made herself a fixture in national and international politics following the election of U.S. President Donald Trump to a second term.

She’s made plenty of headlines in recent months for visiting Mar-a-Lago in January as Trump threatened tariffs, lowering the bar for provincial referendums, thereby reigniting Alberta separatist sentiment, and pressing new Prime Minister Mark Carney to keep his election campaign promises on oil and gas production.

Pollsters suggest Smith’s national headlines are a “helpful distraction” from the controversies she is facing at home, namely questions about her government’s healthcare contract procurement processes, which were ignited after the former CEO of Alberta Health Services (AHS) filed a wrongful dismissal lawsuit earlier this year.

A report into the scandal, authored by a former Manitoba provincial court chief judge, was initially scheduled to be released in May, but has since been delayed until September.

“Despite the rising topline number for Smith, she remains the most polarizing premier in the country,” says the report from Angus Reid.

Polling indicates most Albertans fall on two opposite sides of the spectrum in their assessment of Smith; 32 per cent strongly approve of her while 37 per cent strongly disapprove of her performance.