More than half of residents of each province say they would be “better off” with a different person in charge.
Vancouver, BC [January 8, 2020] – As a debate over national unity continues in Canada, a large proportion of Albertans and Ontarians are dissatisfied with their current provincial heads of government, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample, 52% of Canadians believe their province would be better off with a different premier in charge.
The proportion of residents who are unhappy with their provincial head of government is highest in Ontario (60%), Alberta (57%), Atlantic Canada (52%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (also 52%). Fewer than half of residents of Quebec (44%) and British Columbia (42%) feel the same way.
In addition, 50% of Canadians believe their province would be better off with a different Prime Minister in Ottawa.
Majorities of residents of Alberta (65%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (59%), British Columbia (53%) and Ontario (51%) believe their province would be better off with someone other than Justin Trudeau in charge of the federal government. Fewer than half of those living in Atlantic Canada (48%) and Quebec (38%) concur.
One-in-four Canadians (25%) believe their province would be better off as its own country, including 40% of residents of both Alberta and Quebec.
Separatist sentiment in Alberta has increased by 10 points since a Research Co. survey conducted in July 2019 and by six points in Quebec since a Research Co. survey conducted in October 2018.
Finally, 16% of Canadians say their province would be better off joining the U.S. and becoming an American state—a feeling that is more pronounced in Alberta (22%) and Quebec (20%).
“The level of disagreement with the notion of a province joining the United States is highest among Canadians aged 55 and over at 87%,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The numbers also amount to a majority among Canadians aged 35-to-54 (71%) and Canadians aged 18-to-34 (66%).”
Methodology:
Results are based on an online study conducted from December 18 to December 20, 2019, among 1,000 adults in Canada. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in Canada. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
Find our full data set here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca