- A majority remain dissatisfied with the performance of the New Brunswick provincial government
- Susan Holt and Blaine Higgs are tied for most preferred as Premier
March 7, 2023:
A majority of New Brunswickers express dissatisfaction with the performance of the provincial government led by PC Premier Blaine Higgs, according to the latest survey by Narrative Research. That said, there has been a slight reduction in the proportion dissatisfied compared with three months ago, with just under six in ten (56%, down from 62%) currently dissatisfied. Close to four in ten (37%, compared with 32% in November 2022) New Brunswick residents are currently satisfied with the government’s overall performance. Dissatisfaction is elevated in Northern NB and Moncton and area, compared with Southern NB.
This quarter sees a shift in voting intentions among decided voters. The PCs and Liberals now have similar levels of support with an increase in support for the PCs (37%, up from 30% in November 2022) and a shift in support for the Liberals (35%, compared with 39%). Just under two in ten would vote for the Green Party (17%, compared with 18%), while one in ten would vote for the NDP (9%, compared with 10%). The People’s Alliance of New Brunswick has backing from 2% of decided voters (unchanged). Liberals have less support in Southern NB compared with elsewhere.
Preference for premier has also shifted, with Susan Holt of the Liberal Party and Blaine Higgs of the PC party tied. Susan Holt is preferred by almost one-quarter (23%, compared with 26% in November 2022), while a similar proportion prefer Blaine Higgs (22%, up from 17%). Preference for David Coon of the Green Party stands at 15% (down from 20%). Seven percent (compared with 5%) prefer Rick DeSaulniers of the People’s Alliance of New Brunswick and 5% (unchanged) prefer Alex White, interim leader of the NDP.
These results are part of Narrative Research’s Atlantic Quarterly®, an independent telephone survey of Atlantic Canadians, and are drawn from a sample of 450 adult New Brunswickers, conducted from February 7-25, 2023, with overall results accurate to within ± 4.6 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times. The results are weighted by region, age, and gender to reflect the overall New Brunswick adult population.
Narrative Research, www.narrativeresearch.ca, is a non-partisan, 100% Canadian-owned research company, certified as a Women Business Enterprise (WBE). Follow us on Twitter at @EveryNarrative.
For more information, please contact:
Margaret Brigley, CEO, Narrative Research at 902.493.3830, mbrigley@narrativeresearch.ca
