Share this Story : Edmonton Journal Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Braid: Fear of U.S. takeover boosts national opposition to separatism: poll

The poll shows that strong forces still hold Canada together, even in the provinces with separatist movements

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

Hey, Alberta — Canada is calling. And the country wants you to stick around.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.

Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.

Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.

Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.

Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

One reason is widespread fear that the U.S. will gobble up any province that separates, suggests new polling from the Angus Reid Institute.

The U.S. looms gigantically over the whole issue.

Seventy-nine per cent say that the Americans would “definitely” or “probably” compel Alberta by political means to join the U.S.

More ominously, 55 per cent feel the U.S. would definitely or probably use military force to take over Alberta.

Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.

There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

The same fear exists for Quebec, but is not quite as intense.

Forty-six per cent of Canadians feel the U.S. would use political means to acquire that province. Forty-four per cent foresee military action.

Reid sums up: “If either were to separate, the common sentiment is that the United States would apply significant pressure to absorb or influence the new independent nation.”

That’s surely one reason, although far from the only one, why national support for preserving Confederation posts big majorities in every province (including Alberta and Quebec).

In B.C., 83 per cent would keep Alberta on board.

Even in Saskatchewan, where anti-Ottawa feeling can run hotter than it does in Alberta, 62 per cent do not want Alberta to separate.

That’s as low as it gets. The keep-Alberta figure is 82 per cent in Manitoba, 84 per cent in Ontario, and 83 per cent across Atlantic Canada.

The percentages for Quebec staying in Canada are lower but they’re still in majority territory everywhere (including 58 per cent of Albertans wanting Quebec to remain).

Treaty 7 G4 Nations opposed to Alberta separation, province's Bill 14

Braid: Smith unveils government referendum in move to spike separatists

Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

Seventy-two per cent of Quebecers want Alberta to stick around.

Those are odd opinions from provinces allegedly hell-bent for independence.

(An earlier Reid survey showed that 65 per cent of Albertans would vote to remain if a referendum were held now. The “Stay” vote is 63 per cent in Quebec.)

This majority opinion prevails everywhere, the Angus Reid Institute says in its last of three important polls on independence.

The key finding is that if independence were possible, the “vast majority of Canadians would block Quebec (71 per cent) or Alberta (79) per cent, from separating.”

The conclusion is obvious — across Canada there’s rock-solid majority opinion for rejecting separation of any province.

McDavid not expected to rejoin Edmonton Oilers lineup right away Sports

McDavid not expected to rejoin Edmonton Oilers lineup right away

'Big mistake': Toronto hockey commentators rip Team Canada for Bouchard/Schaefer/Hyman omissions Cult of Hockey

'Big mistake': Toronto hockey commentators rip Team Canada for Bouchard/Schaefer/Hyman omissions

Advertisement 2Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

Finally! Struggling Edmonton Oilers forward likely to be traded this week, NHL insider says Cult of Hockey

Finally! Struggling Edmonton Oilers forward likely to be traded this week, NHL insider says

'Ended up costing Canada': Critics blame McDavid in Olympic gold medal loss. Hmm Cult of Hockey

'Ended up costing Canada': Critics blame McDavid in Olympic gold medal loss. Hmm

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack warns of 'significant infrastructure deficit' Local News

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack warns of 'significant infrastructure deficit'

One finding might be galling even to federalist Albertans, most of whom believe their province is a net payer into the national economy.

Most others don’t buy that argument.

“The view that Alberta is a net contributor is held by many in Alberta (56 per cent) and Saskatchewan (52 per cent) but fewer Canadians overall (29 per cent),” the survey says.

Only 13 per cent of Canadians believe Saskatchewan gives more than it gets. That drops to 12 per cent for Ontario and nine per cent for Quebec.

Apparently, Canadians don’t believe any province is horribly ripped off by Confederation.

Finally, there’s the question of pride in Canada.

Sixty-one per cent of Albertans say they’re proud or somewhat proud. That’s surprisingly close to the level of pride in most provinces from B.C. through to Ontario.

Quebec is somewhat lower, at 47 per cent, while Atlantic Canada is the pride champion at 74 per cent.

The poll shows that strong forces still hold Canada together, even in the provinces with separatist movements.

It also suggests that if separatism ever comes close to reality, the rest of the country will push back hard.

To finally accept the independence of Alberta or Quebec, seven provinces with 50 per cent of the population would have to formally endorse a constitutional amendment.

What are the chances that any other province would agree, when their own populations are so powerfully opposed?

Don Braid’s column appears regularly in the Herald

X and Bluesky: @DonBraid

Share this Story : Edmonton Journal Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

© Edmonton Journal