Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has signaled that the province will hold a referendum this October on whether or not to separate from Canada but a new Angus Reid survey shows a majority of Albertans believe Smith has handled the issue “poorly.”
The question put to Albertans to answer on October 19 is; “Should Alberta remain a province of Canada, or should the Government of Alberta commence the legal process required under the Canadian Constitution to hold a binding provincial referendum on whether or not Alberta should separate from Canada?”
Of the Albertans asked in Angus Reid’s latest survey, a majority (61 per cent) say they would choose not to proceed with starting the process of a binding referendum to separate, while half (51 per cent) find the question confusing.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith (CPAC)
If the question consisted of a simple hypothetical – should Alberta leave or stay in Canada – 67 per cent say stay, and 31 per cent say leave.
The survey also shows significant dissatisfaction with the way the Alberta premier has handled the issue and cynicism over her motivation – a feeling most intensely felt among those who don’t already support the party or the Alberta separatist movement.
