Broad Support for New Pipelines Across Canada

Even amid another summer of wildfire smoke and orange skies, new polling from the Angus Reid Institute show majorities back proposed projects to British Columbia and Ontario.

The political and economic conversation around energy infrastructure continues to evolve in Canada, and public opinion is shifting in favour of fossil fuels exploitation.

Fresh polling from the Angus Reid Institute (ARI) tested Canadians' support for two proposed pipeline projects linking Alberta to the Pacific Coast and to Ontario. The latter would be a 3,300-kilometre pipeline to Sarnia, ON, whose preliminary plans were unveiled last week by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.

The survey finds strong public support for both proposals.

Overall, do you support or oppose this proposed new pipeline from Alberta to the B.C. coast?

Nationally, 61% of respondents said they support the project, while just 21% oppose it.

Support is widespread across the country. Three-quarters of respondents in Saskatchewan (75%) and nearly as many in Alberta (73%) back the proposal. Majorities also support it in British Columbia (62%), Ontario (63%), Atlantic Canada (69%), and Manitoba (58%). Opposition in each of these regions ranges from just 14% to 24%.