Canadians think Quebec gets more than it gives to federation: poll

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Quebec’s François Legault may be dealing with some jealousy when he meets fellow premiers in Halifax this week.

As a three-day first minister’s meeting began Monday, a new poll was published indicating many Canadians think Quebec is the federation’s biggest beneficiary.

“Quebec is most likely to be seen to be benefiting disproportionately from its place in the nation,” the Angus Reid Institute said.

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The poll also indicated that Quebecers are:

• The least aggrieved as part of the federation.
• The least likely to think the federal government is hurting their province’s economy.
• The most likely to say Ottawa treats their province fairly.

Despite those positive feelings, Quebecers also feel disrespected by the rest of Canada, according to the survey.

Angus Reid, a non-profit opinion research institute, asked 2,021 Canadians if they think any provinces “get an extra advantage — that is, they get more than they give being part of Canada.”

Two in five — 42 per cent — of Canadians polled said Quebec garners an extra advantage.

Majorities in every region other than Ontario and Quebec said Quebec gets more than it gives, Angus Reid said.

Alberta was the top choice when pollsters asked which provinces give more than they receive.

Just under one-quarter — 23 per cent — said Alberta is getting a raw deal. That’s 10 percentage points higher than Ontario, which placed second.

Quebecers least aggrieved

Angus Reid used the data collected to calculate a “net alienation score.”

They took those who believe their province gets an advantage over others in Canada and subtracted those who say they get a raw deal.

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With a net alienation score of minus-55 per cent, Saskatchewan residents “were the most likely to feel little benefit and high levels of angst,” Angus Reid said.

Quebec — the only province with a vibrant sovereignist movement — was the least likely to feel aggrieved as part of the federation.

Quebec’s net alienation score was minus-12 per cent.

Dissatisfaction growing

Some of the poll’s findings may help explain low poll results for Legault and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Quebec, where surveys show Legault’s Coalition Avenir Québec government trailing the Parti Québécois, saw the biggest decline in “the way things are going” in their province.

Forty per cent of Quebecers said they were satisfied, down from 55 per cent in 2019. Legault took power in 2018.

An even sharper drop in satisfaction was recorded when respondents were asked about the state of things in Canada where Trudeau’s Liberals are trailing the Conservatives.

Across Canada, almost three-quarters (72 per cent) said they were dissatisfied, compared to 59 per cent in 2019. Trudeau has been prime minister since 2015.

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People in Quebec were the least dissatisfied with how things are going in Canada. However, a majority (63 per cent) were still critical of situation.

Angus Reid also asked respondents whether the federal government has helped or hurt their provincial economy over the past two years.

Saskatchewan and Alberta residents were the most likely to say Ottawa damaged their economies (72 per cent and 65 per cent, respectively).

Quebecers were the least likely to say the Trudeau government harmed their economy. Forty-six per cent of Quebec respondents blamed Ottawa, an increase of four percentage points compared to 2019.

Angus Reid also asked Canadians if their province is “treated fairly” by the federal government and if their province is “respected” by the rest of the country.

Ontario was the only province where a majority said they feel fairly treated by Ottawa, with Quebec second at 42 per cent.

However, Quebecers were among the least likely to say their province is respected by the rest of Canada.

Only 26 per cent of respondents from Quebec said their province is respected. Saskatchewanians were the least likely to feel respected (22 per cent).

ariga@postmedia.com

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