Smith's approval hits new low amid separation referendum backlash

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since taking office, dropping to 39 percent in the second quarter of 2026, according to new polling released Thursday by the Angus Reid Institute.

The decline — down seven points from the previous quarter — comes as controversy surrounds the Alberta government's plan to include a question about Alberta's future within Canada as part of its October referendum.

Smith retains approval from seven in 10 past United Conservative Party voters. One-quarter of past UCP supporters now disapprove of her performance.

The referendum question has become a flashpoint for public debate in recent weeks, with critics arguing the move overreaches provincial authority and pushes separatism as policy. Supporters have framed it as a measure of Western alienation and provincial autonomy.

For residents watching the political temperature rise heading into the summer, the polling suggests the premier's political standing is weakening just as her government advances one of its most divisive proposals.