By Adelle Loiselle, May 27, 2022 at 10:30 p.m.
In the final week of Ontario’s election campaign, a new poll suggests voters will wake up Friday morning with a government very similar to what they had.
According to Angus Reid’s Friday poll, Ontario voters are not excited about all provincial party leaders. Two-thirds said they disliked Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford, though the 338 Canada poll on Thursday seems to suggest that a majority of voters will stick their noses in it and vote for it anyway.
Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford speaks in London on May 21, 2022. (Photo courtesy of Ontario PC Party)
It seems that voters don’t like Ontario NPD leader Andrea Horwath or Ontario Liberal Party leader Steven Del Duca either. Only 22 percent found Del Duca attractive, while a third had a positive impression of Horwath. Another 30% liked Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner.
Pressed to choose, 35% said Ford was their best choice for the Premier. Horwath had only 21% faith, while Del Duca and Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner were tied at 12%.
One in five weren’t sure who would play the role better.
338 Canada is projecting a progressive Conservative majority next Thursday. He said there was almost no chance of the NPD or the Liberals forming the next government in Queen’s Park, but an 85% chance that Ford would stay first.
Woman in protective mask with shopping cart in front of supermarket (© Can Stock / malajski)
Because? Given that accessibility and inflation have emerged as the main issues of the campaign, three out of ten believe that Ford is the most qualified to address these concerns. Those who said Horwath were tied up with those who were unsure. What was clear is that voters do not trust Del Duca on this issue. Only 14 per cent believed it would make life more affordable for Ontarians.
Of the 14 constituencies covered by NewsToday.ca, all but two are expected to remain in the last government.
These two are Essex and London North Center, where there is no guarantee that the NDP will keep its seats. 338 Canada suggests that Essex leans toward the Progressive Conservative candidate and admits that it is a launch in North London-Central.
Audrey Festeryga (photo sent)
The data was taken on the same day that Liberal candidate Andrey Festeryga left the race in Chatham-Kent-Leamington on charges that his campaign recycled the signatures of another Liberal to secure his nomination. It is difficult to say whether his departure will have any impact, but 338 Canada said the staging is safe for conservative progressives despite a change of representation. The incumbent, Rick Nicholls, is running for the Ontario party this time around, and Trevor Jones picked up the nomination when he left the party.
Also safe, Lambton-Kent-Middlesex. Minister of Labor, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton is expected to win the seat easily for conservative progressives.
Elgin-Middlesex-London and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex are considered safe for the party, along with Oxford, Sarnia-Lambton, Bruce-Gray-Owen Sound, Huron-Bruce and Perth-Wellington.
The new Democrats are expected to have their seats in London-Fanshawe, although driving is considered “likely” and not “safe”, and London West is leaning towards the NDP.
338 Canada suggests that voters will likely elect Gemma Gray-Hall with the NDP in Windsor-Tecumseh and return incumbent Lisa Gretzky to Windsor West.
Election Day is June 2.