60% of Albertans would vote no on Alberta's official October referendum question, while 56% say Premier Danielle Smith has handled the separation issue poorly, according to a new Angus Reid poll.
67% would choose to stay in Canada when asked a simpler leave-or-stay question, suggesting the ballot wording is shaping responses; 51% said the official 37-word question is confusing.
Smith is drawing criticism from both sides: nearly a third of 2023 UCP voters rated her handling poorly, and 33% of those voters saw the referendum as an attempt to appease separatists in her party.
40% said Smith's main motivation is keeping her job, nearly half said she should resign, and current provincial vote intentions were nearly tied at 46% for the UCP and 45% for the NDP.
Ahead of the Oct. 19 vote, the poll also found older Albertans were more open to separation than younger ones, and 7 in 10 respondents said separatists would not accept a defeat.
Is Alberta's premier using a separation vote to strengthen Canada, or has she lost control of her party?
What happens the day after Albertans vote to begin the complex legal process of separation?
As foreign powers watch Alberta's referendum, could outside influence decide Canada's fate?
Alberta’s 2026 Referendum on Separation: Political Tensions, Legal Hurdles, and Economic Risks
Overview
Alberta is preparing for a major political moment with the October 19, 2026, referendum, where Premier Danielle Smith’s new question—widely seen as about separatism—will appear alongside nine other ballot questions. The outcome could deeply affect Alberta’s future in Canada. Premier Smith has promised to fight any court rulings against her question, and experts warn that legal battles could last for years. If Alberta were to separate, it would face serious challenges as a landlocked nation. The referendum’s result, whatever it may be, is expected to have lasting legal and political consequences for the province.