Albertans Want New Gov’t to Focus on Health Care, Affordability, and Standing Up to Ottawa: Poll

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith waits for the swearing in of her new cabinet in Edmonton on June 9, 2023. (Jason Franson/The Canadian Press)

Albertans want re-elected Premier Danielle Smith to focus on improving health care, making life more affordable, and standing up to Ottawa while advocating for the province, according to a new poll.

Published on June 12, the Leger survey polled just over 1,000 Albertans online to gauge their perspectives on the results of the May 29 provincial election.

According to the survey, the top two areas Albertans want the new government to focus on include “improving the delivery of health care,” and “helping with the cost of living issues brought on by rising inflation and interest rates.”

Survey respondents were asked to indicate their top three priorities, with 16 percent pointing to health care as their first priority, 10 percent ranking it second, and 7 percent ranking it third, with a total of 32 percent identifying health care as one of their top three priorities.

Thirteen percent of Albertans named affordability and cost of living issues as their first-place focus, with 6 percent each ranking it as a second and third priority, for a total of 25 percent ranking cost-of-living issues as one of their top three priorities.

Three main economic issues—growing the economy, cutting taxes, and diversifying the economy—were priorities for the majority of survey respondents who ranked it as the first, second, or third most important issue for the new Smith government to focus on.

When it comes to provincial-federal relations, Albertans were asked if Smith should “push back strongly against the federal government and advocate for Albertans.” Just under half (47 percent) agreed with that statement, while 40 percent of survey respondents said the premier should be “less combative and more collaborative” with Ottawa. Thirteen percent responded that they “don’t know.”

Of those surveyed, 71 percent of those who voted in the election said they knew who they would vote for before the election even started. Only 12 percent were undecided and reported that they made up their minds on or just before election day.

The majority of Albertans, 51 percent, said they were satisfied with the outcome of the election, while 40 percent said they were dissatisfied.

‘Divergent Views’

According to Leger, those Albertans who said they voted for the New Democrat Party (NDP) led by Rachel Notley, were more likely to say health care was their primary priority, with 46 percent of respondents saying it was their number one focus. UCP voters were more likely to support growing the economy at 27 percent, with 25 percent pointing to health care as their focus.

Of those surveyed, 29 percent of NDP voters wanted the focus to be on cost of living issues and affordability, with 23 percent of UCP voters identifying the same priority.

Supporters of Danielle Smith and the United Conservative Party placed a higher emphasis on growing the oil and gas sector, compared to NDP voters.

“NDP and UCP voters show divergent views on many policy issues, with notable disparities in their priorities regarding health care delivery, the oil and gas sector, economic growth, and climate change,” said Leger.

Only 8 percent of UCP voters focused on climate change, in comparison to 22 percent of NDP voters, with similar results on improving the school-age education system.

Meanwhile, only 4 percent of NDP voters had concern over reducing the provincial debt, while 16 percent of UCP voters identified that as an issue to focus on.

“Older Albertans prioritize improving healthcare delivery, social issues and safety, the oil and gas sector, and provincial debt. Younger Albertans prioritize cost of living, climate change, and education,” said Leger.

The Leger poll has no margin of error due to it being a non-random online survey.