New data suggests strong support across the country for a new line from Alberta to B.C.’s West Coast as well as a link to Ontario.
An online survey conducted by the Angus Reid Institute found that 63 per cent of Canadians approve of the pipeline, which would run from Bruderheim, northeast of Edmonton, to ports in Delta, B.C.
Fifty-five per cent of respondents were in support of another line, which plans to bring oil to Sarnia, Ont.
But the pollster says this support could change as development drags on.
“Only about half of Canadians say they have truly made up their minds about the projects, suggesting both proposed pipelines sit on proverbially shifting ground,” Angus Reid said in its report.
“In the case of the Alberta to B.C. pipeline, one-quarter of Canadians (27 per cent) say their support for the project is immovable while 33 per cent say they currently support the project but could be convinced otherwise.”
The poll also found that most Canadians (55 per cent) strongly believe in diversifying the country’s oil markets away from the United States. Forty-five per cent say the new pipeline would create jobs.
It also found the Alberta to B.C. pipeline received a lot more attention than the project from Alberta to Ontario.
“Two-in-five (41 per cent) hadn’t heard of it compared to the eight per cent who say the same of the Alberta to B.C. pipeline,” Angus Reid said.
B.C. resistance shrinking
While the poll suggested many Canadians (41 per cent) believe in a full shift toward renewable energy sources, opposition to pipelines in B.C. – a province known to protest such projects – has fallen.
“Three-in-five (62 per cent) say they support this new project proposed by Alberta,” the poll said.
“Two-in-five (40 per cent) in B.C. say they find the fact that the pipeline won’t be breaking a new path and will instead follow the existing Trans Mountain pipeline as a compelling reason to support the project.”
Angus Reid also said that a sense of Canadian unity is also a factor.
“For both pipelines, national unity appears to be a secondary reason driving support. One-in-eight (13 per cent) say they find that compelling as a reason to build the B.C. pipeline; one-in-five (18 per cent) say the same of the Ontario project.”
The Angus Reid survey was conducted between July 10 and 14 among a random sample of 2,649 Canadian adults.
For comparison purposes only, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/- two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.