PCs maintain Ontario lead as Liberal leadership race remains wide open, new poll finds

Ontario's Progressive Conservatives maintain a narrow lead over the Ontario Liberals in a new poll, with the NDP trailing behind at 21 percent. David Valentin, principal at Liaison Strategies, stated that the PCs have held onto their August recovery, while both parties have seen slight changes in support. Premier Doug Ford's approval rating has improved to 38 percent, up from 36 percent in August, while his disapproval rating has dropped to 59 percent, down from 61 percent in July.

Despite Premier Ford's rebound, a majority of respondents still believe Ontario is heading in the wrong direction, with 70 percent expressing dissatisfaction. The Liberal leadership race remains fluid, with low public awareness among respondents. Prior to receiving descriptions of potential candidates, a majority of Ontarians were unsure about their preference or rejected all options.

After receiving candidate details, Navdeep Bains saw a significant increase in support, while Lee Fairclough also gained ground. However, among current Liberal voters, Bains remains the preferred choice. The survey highlights the challenge of appealing to both existing party supporters and attracting new voters. Thirty-one percent of respondents indicated they would consider voting Liberal, with 58 percent remaining open to supporting the party.