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Saskatchewan’s Brad Wall continues to rank as Canada’s most popular premier

Often, in politics like in life, popularity is fleeting.

Just don't tell that to Saskatchewan premier Brad Wall.

According to an Angus Reid survey, released Monday, Wall, who was recently elected to a second term in office, continues to have the highest approval rating of all premiers in the country at 66 per cent.

He is followed by fellow western premiers Alberta's Alison Redford (55 per cent), and Manitoba's Greg Selinger (50 per cent). New Brunswick premier David Alward is fourth on the list with a 47 per cent rating.

Interestingly, in a time of economic uncertainty, 4 out of the top 5 most popular leaders are conservative in philosophy.

On the other side of the spectrum — the unpopular spectrum, if you will — sit 3 left-of centre politicians: Liberal premier Dalton McGunity has 32 per cent support in Ontario, B.C. Liberal premier Christy Clark has just 28 per cent support, and Nova Scotia's Darrell Dexter, a New Democrat, is at 26 per cent.

[ Related: Recent social and economic reports paint grim picture for province of Ontario ]

Angus Reid also asked respondents if they approve of the performance of their province's opposition leaders.

Newfoundland and Labrador's Lorraine Michael and British Columbia's Adrian Dix topped that list with approval ratings of 53 per cent. That figure bodes well for Dix who faces a May 2013 election.

The online survey of 6,657 Canadian adults was conducted between August 21 and August 27 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20. Prince Edward Island was not included in the survey.

*Approval Ratings by province:

Q: Do you approve or disapprove of the performance of each of the following people?

British Columbia: Premier Christy Clark (28 per cent); Opposition Leader Adrian Dix (53 per cent)

Alberta: Premier Allison Redford (55 per cent); Opposition Leader Danielle Smith (50 per cent)

Saskatchewan: Premier: Brad Wall (66 per cent); Opposition Leader John Nilson (37 per cent)

Manitoba: Premier: Greg Selinger (50 per cent); Opposition Leader Brian Pallister (35 per cent)

Ontario: Premier: Dalton McGuinty (32 per cent); Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath (49 per cent)

Quebec: Premier Jean Charest (32 per cent); Opposition Leader François Legault (49 per cent) (NOTE: The survey was conducted before Quebec general election)

New Brunswick: Premier David Alward (47 per cent); Opposition Leader Dominic Cardy (29 per cent)

Nova Scotia: Premier Darrell Dexter (26 per cent); Opposition Leader Stephen MacNeil (50 per cent)

Newfoundland and Labrador: Premier Kathy Dunderdale (39 per cent); Opposition Leader Lorraine Michael (53 per cent)

*Note: The 'opposition leader' featured is the one with the highest approval rating of all opposition parties registered in the province.

[ Related: What does a minority PQ government mean for Quebec and the rest of Canada? ]