Referendum Leaves Premier Smith’s Approval Bruised but not Broken

(Calgary) The October referendum has damaged Premier Danielle Smith’s reputation among Alberta voters, but the shift has been gradual rather than seismic, and she remains well liked among UCP voters. According to a recent ThinkHQ Public Affairs survey of Alberta voters, neither of the two main provincial party leaders is particularly popular (with disapproval outpacing approval for both), but Smith’s scores have seen a slow but steady erosion since the introduction of the Election Statutes Amendment Act in spring of 2025, which paved the path to the recent provincial referendum vote.