Doug Ford approval falls to 24% as Ontario poll shows Liberals ahead

Doug Ford’s approval rating has dropped to 24%, according to a new Ontario poll released Friday, as his Progressive Conservatives trail the Liberals in provincial voting intentions. The Liaison Strategies survey puts the Liberals at 38%, ahead of the governing PCs at 33%. The NDP are at 21%, while the Greens stand at 3%. Pollster David Valentin said the results show only modest movement, but it is moving away from Ford and toward the opposition. The low approval numbers come as the Ford government faces criticism over spending. The report points to hotel and meal expenses claimed by several MPPs, including former tourism minister Stan Cho, who resigned after billing taxpayers for Toronto hotel stays and other costs. The article says internal emails suggest some lawmakers were told they could charge for downtown hotel rooms during latenight sittings. The story frames the issue as a political problem for a government already under pressure from costofliving concerns.