It's illuminating that only about a third (32%) of those who voted to pursue a separation referendum actually want to separate (this from an Abacus Data poll). The rest voted for Option 2 for other reasons, like "to get a better deal with Canada", "to send a message to Ottawa", or just because they feel they "deserve a direct say on separation" (i.e. just because).
This, then, puts support for actual separation in Alberta at between 8% and 8.5% among those who voted (24% times 32% or 37%), so between 160,000 and 170,000 out of the 2 million who actually voted.
If we consider that voter turnout (about 2 million) was only 62% of the 3.2 million eligible voters, the picture becomes even more stark. It's a reasonable assumption that the vast majority of the surprisingly large number who didn't bother to vote were complaisant federalists and not separatists (who tend to be much more motivated). So, those voting for Alberta independence amounted to 160,000-170,000 out of 3.2 million, roughly 5%.
So, all this song and dance, and many millions spent on administration and advertising, just to assuage the egos of 5% of Albertans?
It certainly makes a mockery of the separatist leaders' claims of a groundswell of public opinion. In reality they are just a small fringe group of discontents, who might just as well move to the USA.
I've seen many articles expressing some variation on the idea that the vote should not be taken as an endorsement of the status quo, because 24% of Albertans voted to pursue a referendum on spearation, and much work remains to be done to placate the would-be separatists, yada, yada. I disagree. A 76%-24% vote is exactly that: a resounding endoresment of the status quo and a strong refutation of the minority view that Alberta should go it alone.
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