I have always strongly opposed Quebec separatism, or any movement that wants to rip our country apart. But at least they respect democracy, and have repeatedly won democratic mandates to pursue their cause. The opposite is true for Alberta separatists. Quebec separatists have been elected 1015 times to federal and provincial seats (599 for the PQ, 416 for the BQ,) vs 1 time for Alberta separatists (35 years ago.) The PQ has been elected 6 times to form governments, 4 of those with majorities. Alberta separatists have elected 0 governments with a mandate to pursue secession. The PQ has won an average popular vote of 33% since its founding in 1968. Alberta separatists have won an average popular vote of 1% since the founding of the Western Canada Concept party in 1980. There is a clear democratic convention in Quebec that a referendum on secession cannot be held without a Parliamentary mandate obtained in a general election. Alberta is having a referendum on secession despite no MLAs having been elected on a mandate to hold such a divisive and consequential vote. Quebec separatists have built a serious movement that has repeatedly won elections, and been given a democratic mandate to advance their cause (with which I strongly disagree.) After 45 years of failure, Alberta separatists can't get elected dog catcher, so have tried to infiltrate a governing party founded and elected on a commitment to national unity.

We’re going to see a lot of polls like this over the next week. Ignore them. If turnout is low enough, the separatists could still push us into a wood chipper. Don’t risk it. 118,000 people have died fighting for Canada. The least we can do is vote for it.