Brian Gallant's Liberals jump in latest CRA poll

Brian Gallant saw a jump in support for his Liberals andhis government despite being mired in several controversies in recent weeks, according to the latest poll from Corporate Research Associates.

The Liberal support climbed to 52 per cent in May up from 45 per cent in February. That compared to 25 per cent for the Progressive Conservatives, which dropped from 27 per cent in the same period.

The NDP saw its support drop to 12 per cent from 18 per cent whilethe Greens barely budged at nine per cent and the People's Alliance maintained its support at two per cent.

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The Gallant government also saw an uptick in support in the last three months at a time when it was busy playing defence on several contentious issues.

The number of people mostly or completely satisfied with the government increased to 49 per cent up from 43 per cent in February.

Meanwhile, the mostly or completely dissatisfied level stoodat 39 per cent in in May.

Support rises despite controversies

Cabinet ministers Stephen Horsman and Donald Arseneault were forced to defend comments they made regarding controversial reforms on how judges are moved.

Cabinet minister Francine Landry also had to defend the province's new bursary program aimed at giving free tuition for low-income students.

Gallant's Liberals have also come under fire for cutting back on the number of days the legislature is sitting and the number of question periods.

When the legislature was sitting, the Liberals backtracked on changes to bills after encountering opposition.

Gallant shuffled his cabinet on Monday, promoting two backbenchers into the inner circle and moving the majority of his ministers into new jobs.

Corporate Research Associates polled 802 NewBrunswickersbetween May 10 and June 1. The margin of error is 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

The margin of error for the decided voters is 4.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Gallant's popularity grows

Gallant also saw his personal popularity rebound in the latest poll.

The Liberal leader's personal approval numbers tumbled to 30 per cent in February from 39 per cent in thefall of 2015. However, Gallant's support returned to 39 per cent in May.

Interim Tory Leader Bruce Fitch saw his support drop in the latest poll to 14 per cent from 19 per cent in February.

GreenParty Leader David Coon's support stood at 10 per cent followed byNDP Leader Dominic Cardy at seven per cent and People's Alliance Leader Kris Austin at four per cent.

None of the above was six per cent, according to the Halifax-based polling company.