Key findings of the 2013 Albertan Survey

1. Albertans' views on China are increasingly polarized

2. More Albertans believe that China will play an increasingly significant role in their lives

3. Albertans' support for better infrastructure to transport energy via the West Coast to Asian markets has sharply increased

4. Albertans' support for Chinese investment in the province has weakened. Albertans are particularly divided on Chinese investment in energy and other resource sectors

5. Overall, Calgarians are the most supportive of Chinese investment

6. Edmontonians presented the largest decline in the percentage of support for Chinese investment in the province. Calgarians, in contrast, presented the largest decrease in the percentage of support for Chinese investment in energy and other resource sectors of the province

7. Calgarians and Edmontonians share the same percentage of support for Chinese investment in energy and other resource sectors of the province. However, the percentage of people opposing this kind of investment is higher in Edmonton

8. Albertans from non-metropolitan areas are the least supportive of Chinese investment in the province. They are particularly unfavourable of Chinese investment in energy and other resource sectors of the province

9. Approximately half of those who oppose Chinese investment in the province do so because of reasons unrelated to China. Protectionism against foreign investment (regardless of origin) is the primary reason offered by those who oppose Chinese investment in the province.
More Albertans think that the province should reduce its reliance on the US market, but they view the Asian alternative with less enthusiasm than in previous CIUA surveys

10. Albertans are more reserved about whether China's economic growth will benefit the province than in previous years

11. Most Albertans still consider knowledge of the Chinese language as unnecessary

12. This survey's results are generally consistent with the 2013 Pew Research Global Attitudes Project, which saw the percentage of Canadians holding a favourable view of China decline from 59% in 2005 to 43% in 2013

13. Albertans, according to the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada's (APFC) 2013 survey remain the most positive province with regards to China as a trading partner