A long-simmering "what if" has become a reality in the province of Alberta, with federalists and separatists now on a five-month clock to convince Albertans to either smother the emerging flames of a sovereignty movement or "start a legal process" for a binding referendum to "separate from Canada."
Those are the options laid out in a 37-word question that the UCP provincial government, led by Premier Danielle Smith, will put to Albertans in an Oct. 19 referendum.
New polling data released on Monday from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute gauging Albertans' opinions leads to three key conclusions.
First, in answering the official October question, most Albertans would choose not to proceed with starting the process of a binding separation vote -- 61% versus 36%. Second, half (51%) find the question confusing.
Third, if they were to answer a simpler hypothetical question -- whether to leave or stay -- support for the federalist side increases -- 67% stay versus 31% leave.
The Angus Reid poll had 800 respondents.