Half of New Brunswickers say they’re worse off financially this year: Angus Reid poll

A new poll by Angus Reid shows many Maritimers are frustrated with the rising cost of living.

More than half of New Brunswickers say they are worse off financially this year compared to last, according to a new poll by Angus Reid.

The non-profit organization conducted an online survey with 4,005 random Canadian adults last month, gauging their thoughts on health care, the cost of living and their respective governments’ performances.

The poll found 52 per cent of New Brunswickers felt they were worse financially than they were a year ago, well above the Canadian average of 36 per cent. Forty per cent of Nova Scotians and 32 per cent of people in Newfoundland and Labrador shared that sentiment.

Angus Reid does not release data on Prince Edward Island due to its small population.

The poll also found that 45 per cent of Newfoundlanders, 41 per cent of Nova Scotians and 38 per cent of New Brunswickers believe they will be in the same boat financially next year. Only 18 per cent of New Brunswickers and Nova Scotians believe they will be in a better financial position next year.

The survey also asked respondents if they believed their provinces were on the “right track.” This time last year 53 per cent of Nova Scotians agreed with that statement, but that number has plummeted to 26 per cent.

Forty-three per cent of New Brunswickers said the province was on the right track last December, but that number has now fallen to 31 per cent. Newfoundland and Labrador is also at 31 per cent.

Major issues

The poll found health care and the cost of living were the biggest issues for residents in all three surveyed Atlantic Canadian provinces, far above housing affordability, street crime and education.

Only 21 per cent and 16 per cent of New Brunswickers and Newfoundlanders, respectively, think their provinces are doing a good job with health care. Nova Scotia sits at 35 per cent, which is well above the national average of 20 per cent.

“That still leaves a majority (62%) who say it is performing poorly, but relative to other provinces in the country, that is high praise,” a news release from Angus Reid says.

On the cost of living, New Brunswick scored 21 per cent, Nova Scotia sits at 15 per cent and Newfoundland and Labrador rests at 10 per cent.

Premier popularity

Last month, Angus Reid said Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston’s approval rating was at its lowest point since he assumed office in 2021, landing at 39 per cent. He was at 50 per cent last December.

The new poll found NDP Leader Claudia Chender is now more popular than the premier, resting at 42 per cent approval rating.

“Houston and the PCs are only a quarter of the way through their majority mandate and have plenty of runway to turn public opinion around,” the release says.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt has a 54 per cent approval rating, dwarfing the 20 per cent rating of interim Progressive Conservative Leader Glen Savoie.

“A new leader (for the Progressive Conservatives) will be elected in October,” the release says. “For now, half (48%) in New Brunswick do not have an opinion of Savoie.”