Pollster POV: Stiles' growing pains, Ford's wishy-washy base

Also: Bad bureaucrat, big bets, mines bill hits the road, sashay away anti-drag intimidators, another civic who's-who and much more

ABOVE THE FOLD

POLL WATCH — Pollster SHACHI KURL joins us this morning to break down the latest public opinion survey from the Angus Reid Institute.

The upshot:

— For the ruling PCs: Approval for Premier DOUG FORD’s government is in the dumps on just about every issue that matters to Ontarians right now — including among his own base. But he’s not sweating it: Two-in-five would still vote PC if an election were held today, roughly the same number that elected him in earlier rounds.

— For the fresh-blooded NDP: Rookie Leader MARIT STILES isn’t making much of a splash — owed in part to the fact she was unopposed in a snoozy leadership contest — but it’s early days yet. Half of respondents didn’t have an opinion on her either way, including 42 per cent of NDP voters.

— For the rudderless Liberals: With the leadership race far off in some distant, undefined future, it’s clear to Ontarians that the Grits are in damage control mode. Salt in the wounds: They’re bleeding supporters to Stiles —…