The proportion of Albertans who hold separatist feelings has fallen markedly since December 2019.
Vancouver, BC [June 2, 2020] – The views of Canadians on the way the federal government can benefit their province have shifted during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample, 38% of Canadians believe that their province would be “better off” with a different Prime Minister in Ottawa, while 47% disagree.
A similar Research Co. survey conducted in December 2019 found that 50% of Canadians believed that their province would be “better off” with a different person heading the federal government.
The proportion of Canadians who wish for a person other than Justin Trudeau as Prime Minister is currently highest in Alberta (54%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (48%), and drops in British Columbia (37%), Quebec (also 37%), Ontario (35%) and Atlantic Canada (31%).
Almost two-in-five Canadians (38%) believe their province would be better off with a different premier in charge, down 14 points nationally since December 2019.
“In three of the four most populous provinces of Canada, the premiers have connected with residents in a meaningful way and saw their standing improve over the past six months,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “In Alberta, there was little movement for the premier and a slight recovery for the prime minister.”
The proportion of Ontarians who think the province would be better off with a premier other than Doug Ford fell from 60% in December 2019 to 38% in May 2020. There is also an improvement for François Legault in Quebec (from 44% to 29%) and for John Horgan in British Columbia (from 42% to 36%).
In Alberta, 56% of residents would rather have a premier other than Jason Kenney, down one point since December 2019. In this province, negative views of Justin Trudeau dropped by 11 points over the same span.
Across the country, 24% of Canadians (-1) think their province would be better off as its own country. Since December 2019, separatist feelings have fallen by four points in Quebec (36%) and by 12 points in Alberta (28%).
Only 17% of Canadians (+1) believe their province would be better off joining the United States, including 20% of Quebecers, 19% of Albertans and 18% of British Columbians.
Photo Credit: WinterE229
Methodology:
Results are based on an online study conducted on May 26 and May 27, 2020, 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