Majority approve of all three controversial pipelines
Most see pipelines as safer than rail
for moving crude
TORONTO
March 16th, 2016 - In a random sampling of public opinion among 1567
Canadian voters, more than half approved of all three contentious proposed
Canadian crude oil pipelines. Well more than half approve of the Energy East
pipeline proposal (55%), while the majority approves of both the Northern
Gateway pipeline and the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion (51% each). The
proportions disapproving of these are about one third (Energy East - 32%,
Northern Gateway - 36%, Trans Mountain expansion - 34%).
All
three pipelines are popular in Alberta, which needs them to export crude oil
from the Oil Sands (Energy East - 82%, Northern Gateway - 75%, Trans Mountain
expansion - 75%). Apart from Alberta, the Energy East pipeline is especially
popular in Atlantic Canada and in the Prairies (71% each). It is least popular
in Quebec (38%). The Northern Gateway pipeline is least popular in BC and
Quebec (40%) and is popular in the prairies (62%). The Trans Mountain expansion
is also least popular in BC (41%) and Quebec (40%). In each case, the pipeline
is most popular among Conservatives and least popular among New Democrats.
6-in-10 agree pipelines safest
Three times as many voters say pipelines
are the safest way to transport crude oil (61%) as say this of rail (20%).
Despite the tragedy of Lac Mégantic, favouring rail is highest in Quebec (28%)
and belief in the safety of pipelines is lowest (48%). By contrast, in Alberta,
home to many pipelines, they are seen to be safer by more than 8-in-10 (82%)
and just one tenth choose rail (10%).
“It is apparent that public opinion in
Quebec is the real fly in the ointment of national consensus on building crude
oil pipelines and relieving the Alberta resource industry’s economic isolation,” said Forum Research
President, Dr. Lorne Bozinoff.
Lorne Bozinoff, Ph.D. is the president and
founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at lbozinoff@forumresearch.com
or at (416) 960-9603.
