Calgary, Edmonton voters overwhelmingly back staying in Canada ahead of referendum: poll
Posted October 14, 2026 6:00 am.
A new poll suggests voters in Alberta’s two largest cities are overwhelmingly opposed to separation from Canada ahead of next week’s referendum vote.
The Canada Pulse Insights survey, conducted exclusively for CityNews and released Wednesday, found 85 per cent of respondents in both Calgary and Edmonton would vote for Alberta to remain a province of Canada when presented with the wording of Question 10 on the Oct. 19 referendum ballot.
Question 10 asks voters whether Alberta should remain a province of Canada or whether the provincial government should begin the constitutional process required to hold a binding referendum on separation.
Just 15 per cent of respondents in each city said the Alberta government should begin the process that could eventually lead to a provincial referendum on separation.
Results were similarly one-sided when respondents were asked directly whether Alberta should become a sovereign country. In Calgary, 16 per cent supported Alberta becoming an independent nation, compared with 84 per cent who said it should remain part of Canada. In Edmonton, support for sovereignty was slightly lower at 13 per cent, while 87 per cent favoured remaining in Canada.
“Effectively what we are seeing in both cities is one in six who say they would like to separate,” says John Wright of Canada Pulse Insights. “We even asked those people whether they were going to go out and vote.”
Among those who said they would definitely cast a ballot, support for remaining in Canada remained strong. The poll found 85 per cent of likely voters in Calgary and 83 per cent in Edmonton would vote for Alberta to remain a province, while 15 per cent and 17 per cent respectively supported beginning the legal process toward a separation referendum.
When asked the direct sovereignty question, 15 per cent of definite voters in both cities said Alberta should become a sovereign country.
Among those who say they will definitely vote
“What appears to be important to look at here is that it’s not just an urban and rural issue, it tends to fall on the fault line of politics,” says Wright. “If you are a member of the United Conservative Party (UCP) you are more likely to go and want to have your own country.”
Advocates of separation argue Alberta would benefit from escaping federal taxation and regulation, while opponents say leaving Canada would harm businesses, increase costs and leave the province responsible for services currently provided by the federal government.
The survey comes as more than 300 advance polling stations are open across Alberta ahead of the Oct. 19 vote.
Premier Danielle Smith’s referendum ballot includes 10 questions. Along with the province’s future within Canada, Albertans will be asked about increased provincial control over immigration, eligibility requirements for publicly funded programs, residency requirements for social supports, fees for health and education services for some non-permanent residents, and proof of citizenship requirements for voting.
Voters will also weigh in on whether Alberta should work with other provinces to pursue constitutional changes, including abolishing the Senate, allowing provinces to appoint their own superior court judges, opting out of federal programs without losing funding, and giving provincial laws priority over federal ones in areas of shared jurisdiction.
The survey comes as more than 300 advance polling stations remain open across Alberta ahead of referendum day on Oct. 19.
The margin of error for the poll is 5 per cent, according to Wright.
