According to a new poll, Albertans are the most worried about the economy and keeping their job, while Quebeckers are more concerned with climate change.
The poll, which was conducted by the Environics Institute, shows a growing divide in priorities among the provinces leading up to the federal election.
Quebec had a total of 37% of respondents who claimed that climate change was the most pressing issue, while in Alberta 29% of people said the economy was the most important.
During the past year, Quebec’s economy has seen a boom. Premier François Legault recently announced that the province had a four billion dollar surplus for this year. As a result of this growth, the province’s global credit rating rose from stable to positive.
At the same time, Quebec will be receiving a total of $13.1 billion in equalization payments, while Alberta and Saskatchewan will be receiving no federal aid and paying more into the equalization program than they receive in transfers.
Alberta’s Premier Jason Kenney has promised to hold a referendum on equalization payments by 2021 if the Trans Mountain pipeline isn’t built.
With regard to jobs, only 25% of Quebec residents are very or somewhat concerned about finding or keeping their jobs, while a majority of 58% of Albertans have anxiety over employment prospects.
In October, Alberta’s unemployment rate of 6.7% was well above the national average of 5.5%. Quebec, meanwhile, sat at a low 5.0% unemployment.
The ailing oil sector has led to a slump in Alberta’s economy. Most recently, Encana announced it was leaving Canada and Husky Energy inc. announced hundreds of layoffs mostly affecting workers in Calgary.
