The Progressive Conservatives’ lead over the governing Liberals has narrowed and PC Leader Tim Hudak’s personal approval rating dropped sharply in the latest Forum Research poll.

At the same time, the new survey found Ontarians remain divided over the Conservatives’ controversial “right-to-work” labour policy.

Compounding the Tories’ woes, the party’s candidate for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek is stepping down for personal reasons.

David Brown, a two-time PC flag-bearer in Mississauga—Erindale in 2007 and 2011, said Monday family obligations mean he lacks the time to contest a possible spring election.

Brown, a father of four, confirmed the Tories asked him to delay making his decision public until after the Feb. 13 byelections in Thornhill and Niagara Falls and was surprised the Star had learned of his plans.

“They’ve asked me to sit on it and I’m not out to undermine the party,” he said, stressing he supports Hudak and is a proponent of the party’s proposed labour reforms.

“If you want to ask me about ‘right-to-work,’ I’m on the same side as Tim and the party on this one.”

But the latest Forum interactive voice response call poll of 1,222 people — conducted Friday and Saturday with a margin of error of three percentage points, 19 times out of 20 — indicates many Ontarians may not be.

Some 38 per cent believe compulsory union dues should be outlawed — down from 41 per cent in November — while an unchanged 43 per cent disagree and 19 per cent have no opinion.

Backing for the Rand Formula, which requires workers in unionized workplaces to pay dues regardless of whether they join the union, is 43 per cent, up from 41 per cent in November.

Disapproval of it is now 38 per cent, down from 45 per cent. Similarly, 19 per cent have no opinion.

Although 58 per cent believe non-unionized workers should be able to compete for public-sector work with unionized civil servants, that’s down from 64 per cent. At same time, 28 per cent disagree, up from 25 per cent, with 14 per cent having no view.

“It’s not a massive wedge issue,” Forum Research president Lorne Bozinoff said Monday.

Indeed, concerns about Hudak’s labour reforms dominated a conference call of worried PC riding association executives last week.

“There’s some uneasiness that they’ve just gone too far to the right,” said Bozinoff, pointing to other findings in the poll.

The Conservatives enjoy 36 per cent support (down from 38 per cent in December) compared to 33 per cent for the Liberals (up from 31 per cent), 26 per cent for the NDP (24 per cent last month), and 4 per cent for the Greens, down from 5 per cent.

“Because the race is so tight anything could happen . . . but I don’t see anyone has a path to a majority,” the pollster said.

In terms of personal popularity, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath had a 40 per cent rating with 36 per cent disapproval and 25 per cent unsure.

Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne also had a 40 per cent approval with 44 per cent disapproval and 16 per cent uncertain.

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Hudak continue to lag behind his rivals with a 21 per cent approval rating, a 51 per cent disapproval rating, and 28 per cent undecided.

Last month, he had 28 per cent approval compared to 41 per cent for Horwath and 35 per cent for Wynne.

“I don’t know that he’s helping (the party),” said Bozinoff. “It would be better if his approval rating was in the 40s like the other two . . . so it’s something that they have to work on and think about.”

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