Two-in-five voters in this year’s federal election (40%) think the possibility of Alberta separation is real, while 46% disagree.
Vancouver, BC [May 8, 2025] – Many voters across Canada are willing to explore modifications to the way the members of the House of Commons are chosen, a new Research Co. “Exit Poll” poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative national sample of Canadians who voted in the 2025 federal election, more than half of respondents (58%) believe Canada should implement a system of proportional representation for federal elections.
“Enthusiasm about a possible move to proportional representation for federal elections is highest among Millennials (67%),” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The numbers drop among members of Generation X (57%), Generation Z (56%) and Baby Boomers and Silent Generation members (49%).”
Just over two thirds of Canadian voters (68%) think it should be mandatory for candidates to attend at least one public debate in their riding with the candidates from other parties.
More than three-in-five Canadian voters support two other measures: making voting mandatory in all Canadian federal elections (61%) and declaring federal Election Day a public holiday in Canada (also 61%).
Majorities of Canadian voters say their parents or guardians voted in federal (75%), provincial (70%) and municipal (59%) elections, while just over two-in-five (42%) recall talking about politics at the dinner table.
The youngest voters—Generation Z members—are more likely to recall discussions about politics at the dinner table (51%) than Millennials (43%), members of Generation X (42%) and Baby Boomers and Silent Generation members (35%).
There has been some talk about the effect a Liberal Party victory will have in provinces where most voters support the Conservative Party, particularly Alberta. Almost two-in-five Canadian voters (39%) think the possibility of Alberta separating from Canada is not real and something they would not like to see happening.
Just over one-in-four Canadian voters (26%) say the possibility of Alberta separating from Canada is real and something they would not like to see happening, while fewer believe Alberta separation is real and something they would personally welcome (14%) or not real and something they would personally welcome (7%).
In Alberta, 29% of voters would welcome separation from Canada, while 64% would not. However, more than half (58%) believe the possibility of Alberta separation is real, while 35% regard it as not real.
Canadian voters were also asked about specific activities. In the past three weeks, more than two-in-five saw, read or heard an advertisement for a federal election candidate (49%) or saw, read or heard media stories where federal election candidates discussed their position on issues (46%).
At least one-in-five Canadian voters watched or attended a debate featuring the federal party leaders (33%), read a party’s electoral platform (26%) or visited the website of a federal election candidate (20%).
Fewer Canadian voters participated in four other activities: watched or attended a debate featuring local election candidates (18%), visited the website of a federal party (17%), interacted with a federal election candidate on social media (14%) or met canvassers or candidates who knocked at their door (12%).
Over the course of the past year, at least one-in-four Canadian voters visited a local library (38%), read community newspapers (36%) or used a community centre or community pool (25%).
Fewer Canadian voters placed a bet on a sporting website (18%), used a sports field in their community (17%), placed a bet on sports with friends or family (16%), volunteered at a school (11%) or volunteered for their municipality (10%).
Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from April 27 to April 29, 2025, among a representative sample of 1,201 Canadians who voted in the 2025 federal election. 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 +/- 2.8 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
Find our data tables 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