To inform Albertans about their candidates' views on oil sands development, we commissioned McAllister Opinion Research to conduct an online survey of the candidates in all 83 ridings of the 2008 Alberta election.
ยป Download the media backgrounder: Polling Alberta's Politicians on Oil Sands
Summary of Results
1. The oil sands should be developed as fast as possible.
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What did Albertans say?
Agree: 28%
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Disagree: 67%
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2. The Government of Alberta should suspend new oil sands approvals until infrastructure and environmental management issues are addressed in the oil sands region.
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What did Albertans say?
Agree: 71%
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Disagree: 25%
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3. New oil sands mines should only be approved if companies can demonstrate that they can return mined areas back to the way they were before mining began.
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What did Albertans say?
Agree: 88%
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Disagree: 11%
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4. Which one of the following two statements most closely describes how you feel about the pace of oil sands development in Alberta.
Market forces: Market forces should decide the rate of oil sands development.
Government management: Government should manage the rate of oil sands development to meet the long term interests of Albertans.
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What did Albertans say?
Market Forces: 20%
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Government management: 74%
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5. This question compares two ways to set targets for greenhouse gas emissions in the oil sands for the next few years. Do you think that greenhouse gas reduction targets should seek to reduce the...
Total emissions: Total amount of greenhouse gas emissions below current levels, even if it costs industry more.
Emissions per barrel: Amount of greenhouse gas emissions per barrel of oil produced, even if total emissions continue to increase.
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What did Albertans say?
Total emissions: 70%
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Emissions per barrel: 20%
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The Fine Print
1. Percentages are based on the total number of party candidates who responded to the survey. Response rates by party were: Green Party (40/60), Alberta Liberal Party (52/83), NDP Party (59/83), PC Party (20/83), Wild Rose Alliance (21/52). At the close of nominations on February 18 the total number of Green and Wildrose Alliance candidates increased to 79 and 61 respectively. Party headquarters were contacted to attempt to secure contact information for new candidates, and where possible new candidates were invited to participate.
2. Albertans' results are drawn from Albertans' Perceptions of Oil Sands Development, a poll commissioned by the Pembina Institute and conducted by Probe Research Inc. in Spring 2007. Learn more
3. Refer to our media backgrounder for more information about this poll.
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