The provincial Tories made a big mistake in changing up Alberta licence plates if the results of a new poll are any indication.

According to the Insights West survey, 60 per cent of Albertans are following the plate debate carefully, and the majority (59 per cent) think removing the slogan Wild Rose Country is a bad idea.

Only 26 per cent are in favour of the change, while 15 per cent remain unsure.

The viewpoint crosses party lines.

Of Albertans who voted in the 2012 election, three-quarters of Wildrose supporters disapprove of the change, as do 55 per cent of Progressive Conservative voters.

“When you have more than half of your voters from the last election saying this was a mistake, that’s clearly something that backfired,” Insights West spokesman Mario Canseco said Friday.

Just over half of Albertans would prefer to keep the Wild Rose Country slogan on plates, while 20 per cent said they prefer the provincial motto Strong and Free.

The online poll, conducted earlier this week, found 11 per cent of respondents do not want any phrases on the plate, while a mere four per cent favour the government’s proposed option, Alberta.ca.

Nine per cent want some other phrase, while six per cent remain unsure.

Older Albertans are most staunchly opposed to removing Wild Rose Country from the plates, with almost two-thirds of those 55 years and older strongly or moderately disagreeing with the idea.

David Taras, a political analyst at Mount Royal University, said the poll’s results aren’t surprising considering how strongly people identify with licence plates.

“They’re part of how people see their province and I think in this case, you’re removing Wild Rose, which has been there for so long and been a symbol of the province for so long,” he said.

“It’s seen a crudely political manoeuvre.”

Making matters worse, said Taras, is the fact the Tory government didn’t involve Albertans in the selection of replacement plates, instead offering up three “ugly” designs.

“It fits into kind of the image that people have of the Tories, that they don’t consult, they don’t listen and they’re disconnected,” he said.

With the 55-plus set, which frequently votes, frowning on the decision, Taras said the government should backtrack.

PC leadership candidates Ric McIver and Thomas Lukaszuk both said Friday they’d leave the Wild Rose slogan intact.

“Removing Wild Rose Country looks petty and it’s a mistake and it’s one that I wouldn’t do as premier,” said McIver.

On the design front, Lukaszuk said he’d host a contest to involve the graphic arts community in the province.

“We could do something really fun and constructive with it and engage Albertans,” he said.

PC leadership candidate Jim Prentice was not available for comment Friday, but said earlier this week the issue has struck a nerve with Albertans.

“It’s important if you’re going to change symbols that you have a broadly based discussion with people and hear what they have to say about it,” he said.

The Wildrose Party launched its own licence plate design competition Wednesday, offering up a $500 prize to the creator of a winning design.

The Insights West online poll surveyed 603 Albertans and was conducted between July 15 and 18. It has a margin of error of plus or minus four percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

With file from James Wood, Calgary Herald