India, Nov. 16 -- Canadian public opinion appears to be divided on denying social services, including public healthcare to temporary residents and requiring proof of citizenship to voting in elections after those issues were raised during a referendum in the province of Alberta last month.

The poll published on Saturday found that 46% of respondents favoured withholding access to provincially funded programmes from temporary workers, as against 51% opposing such a measure.

These were among the findings of a survey conducted by the agency Nanos Research for the outlet Globe and Mail.

Refusing public services like healthcare or education to temporary residents, including workers and asylum seekers, was not contested in Canadian politics ...