Published July 1st, 2009 by Future Atlas
Quebec Independence: It Depends
Earlier this month Quebec adults were asked two versions of a question about more independence for the Canadian province. How the question was asked heavily influenced the results:
Q — “If a referendum on Quebec sovereignty were held today, would you vote yes or no to the following question? – ‘Do you agree that Quebec should become a country separate from Canada?’”
- Yes — 34%
- No — 54%
- Not sure — 13%
Q — “If a referendum on Quebec sovereignty were held today, would you vote yes or no to the following question? – ‘Do you agree that Quebec should become sovereign after having made a formal offer to Canada for a new economic and political partnership within the scope of a bill respecting the future of Quebec?’”
- Yes — 40%
- No — 41%
- Not sure — 19%
Even the confusingly worded second version does not get even a plurality of support, suggesting why the probability of independence for Quebec in the next couple of decades remains low.
Source: “Question Shapes Views on Sovereignty in Quebec,” Angus Reid, June 12, 2009.