They Were The Best Of Prime Ministers… They Were The Worst Of Prime Ministers

Schrödinger’s Prime Minister

- jim Young

Well this is kind of interesting. The report below shows a list of the approval ratings of Canadian Prime Ministers.

It seems that some of the most popular Canadian Prime Ministers were also the worst Canadian Prime Ministers. I find this problematic in that this same report could be used to take the position that Mark Carney is one of the most popular Prime Ministers ever. 

But at the same time, one could also support their position that Mark Carney is one of the worst Prime Ministers ever.

It’s kind of like Schrödinger’s cat. While Schödinger’s cat could be thought of as simultaneously alive AND dead, Mark Carney could be thought of as simultaneously the Best AND the Worst.

Is it possible that perhaps both bricks and bouquets are in order? 

FYI - The specific question asked that generated this report was “List Canadian Prime Ministers in order of popularity.”

This  is what AI had to say. Make of it what you will.

- 30 -

“List Canadian Prime Ministers in order of popularity.”

Because Canadian prime ministers don't have fixed terms, their popularity can be measured in two different ways: by the highest individual approval ratings they ever achieved while in office, or by how Canadians rank them historically as the "best" leaders.

Data from historic Gallup tracking, Maclean's aggregate rankings, and recent Research Co. polling show how Canada's modern prime ministers stack up.

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1. By All-Time Peak Approval Rating (In-Office)

This list ranks modern prime ministers by the absolute highest single popularity rating they achieved during their time in office. Most leaders hit these peaks during their initial "honeymoon" period or during moments of major national unity:

1. Mark Carney – 68% (June 2025)

2. Jean Chrétien – 66% (September 1994)

3. Justin Trudeau – 65% (September 2016)

4. John Diefenbaker – 64% (June 1958)

5. Stephen Harper – 64% (March 2006)

6. Brian Mulroney – 61% (June 1985)

7. Paul Martin – 56% (September 2004)

8. Lester B. Pearson – 56% (January 1966)

9. Pierre Trudeau – 55% (September 1972)

10. Kim Campbell – 53% (July 1993)

11. Joe Clark – 32% (November 1979)

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2. By Public Consensus ("The Best Ever")

When Research Co. surveyed Canadians on who they considered the best prime ministers in history, the public selected these six leaders above all others. (Respondents could choose more than one, so totals do not equal 100%):

• Pierre Trudeau (30%): Consistently popular among Baby Boomers and voters in British Columbia; highly remembered for patriating the Constitution and the Charter of Rights.

• Mark Carney (29%): Ranks highly due to recent popularity, particularly strong in Atlantic Canada and among younger generations (Gen Z).

• Stephen Harper (29%): Heavily favored by Gen X and holding immense popularity in the Prairies (hitting 47% approval in Alberta).

• Sir John A. Macdonald (27%): Canada's first prime minister remains highly regarded for nation-building, particularly in Ontario.

• Jean Chrétien (27%): Heavily favored by Millennials and voters in Quebec, largely remembered for a strong economy and balanced budgets in the 1990s.

• Brian Mulroney (23%): Remembered historically for his transformational economic policies, like NAFTA.

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3. The Other Side: The "Worst Ever" Poll

Popularity in Canada is deeply polarized, meaning the leaders who top the "best" list are often the same ones who top the "worst" list due to regional divide. When Canadians were asked to name the worst heads of government, the rankings shifted dramatically:

1. Justin Trudeau (47%) – Topped the "worst" list across all age groups and regions, peaking at 63% animosity in Alberta.

2. Stephen Harper (23%) – Tied for second.

3. Pierre Trudeau (23%) – Tied for second.

4. Mark Carney (21%)

5. Kim Campbell (20%) – Largely due to her short 132-day tenure and her party's subsequent historic electoral defeat.

Note on Historical Lows: While Justin Trudeau hit a modern polling floor of 21% approval in early 2025, Brian Mulroney still holds the record for the lowest approval rating in Canadian history, dropping to 12% in late 1992 following the introduction of the GST and the collapse of the Charlottetown Accord.