Older residents are more likely to believe that the province would be better off as its own country.

Vancouver, BC [December 20, 2018] – In spite of increased commentary and media coverage, the proportion of Albertans who believe they would benefit from an eventual independence from Canada remains low, a new Research Co. poll has found.

In the online survey of a representative sample of Albertans, 25% of respondents agree with the statement “Alberta would be better off as its own country.” More than two thirds of Albertans (69%) disagree with this notion, including 58% who “strongly disagree.”

“The level of support for the idea of an independent Alberta is roughly the same as it was in surveys conducted in 2014 and 2016,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Four years ago, with a Progressive Conservative government in Edmonton and a Conservative government in Ottawa, the findings were similar to what is observed in 2018.”

The idea of an independent Alberta is more attractive for residents aged 55 and over (34%), as well as people who voted for the Wildrose Party in the 2015 provincial election (38%).

Across the province, 69% of Albertans say their views are different from the rest of Canada, and 84% say they are very proud of the province they live in.

Three-in-five respondents (60%) say they consider themselves “Canadians first, and Albertans second”, while just under a third (31%) claim to be “Albertans first, and Canadians second.”

Albertans aged 55 and over are more likely to place the province ahead of the country (40%) than those aged 35-to-54 (30%) and those aged 18-to-34 (20%)

Methodology:



Results are based on an online study conducted from December 13 to December 16, 2018, among 601 adults in Alberta. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Alberta. The margin of error— which measures sample variability—is +/- 4.0 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.

Find our full data set here and download the press release here.

Photo Credit: Gorgo

For more information on this poll, please contact:

Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.

[c] 778.929.0490

[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

LinkedIn

Print

Email

