In a random sampling of public opinion taken by the Forum Poll™ among 1,411 Canadians 18 years of age and older, three quarters agreed that Alberta should share more of its resource revenues with the rest of the country (72%), and close to one half (46%) agreed strongly. Predictably, there is little overall agreement with this sentiment in Alberta (33% agree) and just one tenth agree strongly (11%). Conservative party supporters are less likely to agree (63%) than are Liberals (79%) or New Democrats (77%).
Seven-in-ten Canadians agree resource revenues will provide stable financing for Canada’s provinces (70%), and this agreement is especially high among older Canadians (55+ – 78%), those in upper income brackets ($80K to $100K – 82%), in Atlantic Canada (81%) and in Alberta (78%). More than 4-in-10 in total agree strongly with this statement (43%). New Democrats and Green Party supporters are less likely to agree overall (61% and 60%, respectively) than are Liberals (77%) or Conservatives (81%).
Just more than one half of Canadians think Alberta demonstrates good stewardship of its natural resources (54%), and about one quarter agree strongly (27%). Albertans are not significantly more likely than other Canadians to think their province is a good steward of its resources (56%). Conservatives are the most likely to agree Alberta is a good resource steward (69%), while New Democrats are the least likely to agree (38%).
Less than half of Canadians agree with Alberta’s habit of spending almost all resource revenues on day-to-day operations (47%), and more than a third do not agree with this (36%). Albertans are significantly more likely than other Canadians to disagree with this kind of budgeting (51%). New Democrats are the least likely to agree with this (40%).
“Canadians have always regarded Alberta’s treasure as Canada’s treasure, and its natural Albertans might not agree. It is interesting to note, however, that Albertans are the least likely to agree with the way their government spends this treasure,” said Forum Research President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603
