Support for Alberta separation remains a minority position ahead of the fall referendum, with 61% saying they would vote to remain in Canada, compared with 33% who support holding a future binding referendum, according to an Angus Reid Institute survey.
Support for actually leaving Canada is lower at 30%, unchanged from May, said Angus Reid in a Friday note.
This gap may reflect mixed motivations within the "leave" camp, with 41% saying their support is more about sending a message to the federal government in Ottawa than establishing an independent Alberta, Angus Reid addwd. Support for the separation process is strongest among men over 34, while younger Albertans are more likely to favor remaining in Canada.
The Oct.19 referendum also appears to carry greater importance for the "leave" camp, with 85% of those who would vote for separation saying the October vote is very important to Alberta's future, compared with 60% among those who would vote to remain, according to Angus Reid.
The survey was conducted between last Monday and Thursday, with 1,017 respondents in Alberta.