Recent polling suggests that Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has restored conservative Albertans’ confidence in the United Conservative Party (UCP).
According to polling from 338Canada, Smith is neck and neck with Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley.
The NDP is polling at 46%, plus or minus 6%, while the UCP is at 45%, plus or minus 7%.
Alberta’s provincial election is scheduled for May 29, 2023 — less than six months away.
The deadlock between the two parties starkly contrasts the UCP’s polling numbers under former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. Just ahead of a leadership review that Kenney barely survived, the former premier’s approval numbers dropped below 30%.
At the same time, ThinkHQ Public Affairs Inc. reported that Kenney’s UCP was trailing the NDP by 12 points in polls.
Since taking over as Premier on October 11, Smith has managed to even out that margin with the NDP.
In her first month as Premier, Smith has announced a host of measures to fight inflation — including forgoing the provincial fuel tax for at least six months. She also promised cheques of $600 for families for seniors and children under 18 every six months.
Two weeks ago, Smith assured Albertans that vaccine policy changes would occur but said more time is needed to get it right.
Mainstream media outlets reported that Smith backtracked on her promise to introduce an unvaccinated rights bill, but Smith says it’s still “a huge priority for me.”
Kenney announced his resignation from politics last week, saying it’s time to move on to the next chapter of his life.
