A new Leger poll commissioned by the Association for Canadian Studies suggests that many Canadians, both inside and outside Alberta, support most of the province's upcoming referendum questions that focus on immigration, election rules and provincial powers.The survey examined nine of the ten referendum questions that Albertans will vote on Oct.19, excluding the question on whether Alberta should begin the legal process toward a binding vote on separation from Canada.

Across Canada, support for several proposals ranged from roughly 69 to 76 per cent, particularly those related to immigration policy and voting requirements.

Measures such as requiring proof of citizenship to vote, restricting certain provincial services to citizens, permanent residents and approved immigrants, and giving Alberta greater control over immigration received strong backing.Interestingly, Albertans themselves were often less supportive of these proposals than respondents in other parts of the country.Constitutional proposals received more mixed responses.

While majorities supported ideas such as abolishing the Senate, allowing provinces to appoint judges to higher courts, and giving provincial laws priority over federal laws in shared areas, support was weaker than for immigration-related measures.Only the proposal allowing provinces to opt out of federal programs while retaining federal funding failed to receive majority national support.

Association for Canadian Studies president Jack Jedwab cautioned that the results may reflect the favourable wording of the referendum questions rather than broad public support for significant constitutional change.He argued that several questions resemble affirmative statements more than neutral referendum questions.

Jedwab also suggested Ottawa will need to carefully consider how it responds to the referendum results, warning that ignoring them or dismissing them outright could have political consequences.

The online survey included 1,528 respondents across Canada between June 19 and 21, with regional results intended as broad indicators rather than precise measurements.