A majority of Canadians say they are “concerned” about potential negative financial impacts on their families if proposed pipeline projects fail to get the go-ahead, a new poll suggests.
The Ipsos Reid/CTV News poll found that six in 10 Canadians “agree” that they are “concerned that if Canada’s government can’t find a way to proceed with some of the oil and gas pipelines that have been proposed, our economy could be hurt in a way that impacts my family’s financial security.”
Of those who agreed with that statement, 15 per cent said they agreed “strongly,” while 44 per cent said they “somewhat” agreed.
Older respondents were also more likely to fear a financial hit to their families if pipeline projects fail to go ahead. Sixty-four per cent of respondents aged 55 and older agreed with the statement, as did 59 per cent of middle-aged respondents (aged 35 to 54). Fifty-five per cent of respondents aged 18 to 34 said they feared the financial fallout if the proposed pipelines don’t get built.
Separated along gender lines, men were far more likely to be concerned, with 64 per cent agreeing with the statement, while 56 per cent of women agreed.
Broken down by province, those who agreed included:
- 72 per cent of Albertans
- 67 per cent of Ontarians
- 63 per cent of respondents from Manitoba and Saskatchewan
- 57 per cent of respondents from Atlantic Canada
- 53 per cent of British Columbians
- 47 per cent of Quebecers
The online poll was conducted from Sept. 18 to Sept. 20 and included 1,035 Canadians. It is considered accurate to within +/- 3.5 percentage points.
The poll results come as Canada continues to push officials south of the border on the Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport Alberta bitumen to refineries on the U.S. Gulf Coast. U.S. President Barack Obama has delayed his decision on the project, although Prime Minister Stephen Harper said on a recent trip to New York that Canada won’t “take no for an answer.” Harper’s comments suggested Canada would continue to lobby subsequent administrations until the project gets approved.
Harper and other supporters of the project cite potential economic benefits of the project, including thousands of new jobs and greater energy security. Opponents argue the pipeline will lead to devastating environmental impacts, and have turned their attention to two proposed projects in British Columbia: Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain and Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipelines.
A federal panel probing the Northern Gateway project is expected to issue a report to the federal government by the end of the year, while Trans Morgan will likely file an official application within months.
