Edmonton Journal has reported:

Most Albertans want the government to turn to affordability, health care and job security after the Oct. 19 referendum, according to an Abacus Data survey. The poll found 67 per cent of respondents want the government to move on from the vote, while 22 per cent want it to keep pressing for greater provincial autonomy.

Even if voters choose Option 1, which would keep Alberta in Canada, only 14 per cent think the question would be settled. Another 26 per cent expect separation to fade before returning, and 23 per cent anticipate a new referendum push within the next few years. About 24 per cent believe the independence movement will continue to grow regardless of the Oct. 19 result.

A majority, about 61 per cent, think Albertans will be asked to vote again on the issue in the future. Robson Fletcher, a data and storytelling strategist with Abacus Data, said most residents trust Elections Alberta to count ballots fairly, but are less confident that people on both sides will accept the result.

“That sets the stage, I think, for some potential challenges once all the ballots are counted after Monday’s vote,” Fletcher said.

“We haven’t seen big swings one way or another, and I think that’s because people are pretty entrenched in their positions, and when you have people so entrenched on a topic like this, where it’s hard to bridge the divide, I think it’s easy for people to have the sense that this issue isn’t going to go away.”

The survey found 71 per cent of both those supporting remaining in Canada and those supporting separation trust the count will be fair. However, 46 per cent of respondents on each side distrust that the opposing side will respect the outcome.

Few expect the referendum to reset Alberta’s relationship with Ottawa. The poll found 42 per cent anticipate no change, while 25 per cent expect the relationship to worsen.

Looking to the year after the vote, 68 per cent believe the province will seek additional powers, including its own pension plan or police force. The police force is already in the works, according to the survey report.

About 60 per cent believe immigrants will avoid Alberta because of possible restrictions on social services. Most respondents also expect tensions with other provinces to rise and businesses to delay or cancel investment because of uncertainty.

A separate Abacus Data survey conducted for the Alberta Federation of Labour, released Thursday, found 56 per cent believe Alberta should not hold a referendum, compared with 30 per cent who said it should. AFL president Gil McGowan said in a press release the findings reflect what he has heard from workers across the province: “no one asked for the referendum.”

“The fact that it’s happening, at all, shows that the Smith government is disconnected from the majority of Albertans who they are supposed to represent,” McGowan said.

The labour federation survey also found more than 60 per cent of respondents were concerned about foreign interference in the vote. Majorities of both United Conservative Party and New Democratic Party supporters shared those concerns.

Respondents were most concerned about the U.S. government and “dark money” groups funded by American billionaires. About half of Albertans think it is likely the U.S. will try to follow through on its threat to make Alberta the 51st state after the referendum.

Both surveys were conducted from Oct. 7 to 13. The polling comes as Albertans prepare for the Oct. 19 vote; a related report said more than 800,000 people had already cast ballots. Another related report said Premier Danielle Smith’s approval rating had fallen to 38 per cent in national premier popularity rankings.

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