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“It’s a very strong opposition. There’s no question people are opposed,” said David Valentin, spokesman for the polling firm, noting there is less opposition to other planks of the strategy, notably replacing coal power with renewables.

In Edmonton, the NDP’s stronghold, 50 per cent of those polled were in favour of the carbon tax, compared to 35 per cent of respondents in Calgary who support the levy and just 19 per cent in the rest of Alberta.

Outside of the province’s two biggest cities, 76 per cent of those polled said they oppose the tax, according to Mainstreet.

The economy-wide tax is expected to add $900 to household costs by 2030 as Albertans pay more for home heating and gasoline, but the government says low and middle-income families will have access to rebates to cushion the blow.

After revealing the strategy, Premier Rachel Notley said last month she was confident her government has a mandate for the sweeping climate strategy, having won the May election with commitments to take action on greenhouse gas emissions.

The NDP platform promised leadership on climate change and a phase-out of coal power, but made no mention of a carbon tax.

The governing New Democrats believe their strategy will improve Alberta’s reputation as an energy producer and weaken opposition to pipelines that would boost oilsands production.

According to the Mainstreet survey, however, 62 per cent of those polled said they do not believe the climate plan will help the province win approval for oilsands pipelines, compared with 16 per cent who said the gambit could work. Another 22 per cent weren’t sure.