Two-Thirds of Canadians Support Energy East Pipeline: Poll

Workers position pipe during construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in Abbotsford, B.C., on May 3, 2023. The Canadian Press/Darryl Dyck

Canadians are increasingly backing the Energy East and Northern Gateway pipeline initiatives as well as the expansion of domestic energy infrastructure in response to a looming threat of a trade war with the United States, a new survey suggests.

Two-thirds of Canadians are now in favour of the Energy East pipeline, a poll released Feb. 10 by the Angus Reid Institute found. Sixty-five percent of respondents currently support the oil pipeline project compared to 58 percent in 2019. Nineteen percent of respondents oppose the initiative and 16 percent are unsure.

The 4,600-kilometre Energy East pipeline was first proposed in 2013 as a way to convey crude oil from Alberta across six provinces to an export terminal in Saint John, N.B. The project was shelved by TC Energy in 2017, citing regulatory barriers.

Fifty-four percent of Canadians are in favour of reviving the Northern Gateway pipeline, which was designed to transport oil from Alberta to the northern coast of British Columbia. An additional 25 percent opposed the project and 21 percent said they weren’t certain.

The project’s approvals were rescinded by the Liberal government after it implemented a ban on oil tankers in the northern region of B.C. and a federal court of appeal determined indigenous peoples were not properly consulted about building the pipeline.

Public opinion reflects growing support for new energy policies as Canadians consider the possibility of the U.S. slapping tariffs on Canada next month. Forty-nine percent of respondents said the federal government is not doing enough to build pipeline capacity and 63 percent said the economy would greatly benefit from the expansion of oil and gas pipeline capacity.

Men are more likely to support pipelines than women. While an average of 72 percent of men across all age groups say the economy would be strengthened through such projects, 52 percent of women surveyed hold that opinion.

U.S. President Donald Trump recently paused the tariffs he enacted against Canada on Feb. 1 that saw a 10 percent tax levied against all Canadian energy imports. The change came after a deal was reached between the president and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Ottawa would bolster its $1.3 billion border security plan.

The tariffs could still be re-implemented at a later date if Trump is not satisfied with Canada’s progress.

Trump is also considering the introduction of a broad range of tariffs on several countries, including Canada, beginning in April. He has said a trade deficit exists between the two nations and that he will no longer allow Canada to “take advantage” of the United States.

Provincial Breakdown

Support for the Energy East pipeline has risen most dramatically in Quebec with 47 percent of those polled saying they would support the initiative compared to 33 percent in 2019.

Support was above two-thirds in every other province with Saskatchewan coming in at 77 percent and Alberta at 67 percent, followed by Atlantic Canada at 70 percent, Ontario at 69 percent, B.C. at 68 percent, and Manitoba at 66 percent.

A Feb. 5 poll released by Angus Reid found that 79 percent of respondents agreed Canada should have “oil and gas pipelines running from sea to sea across the country.”

The idea was particularly popular in Alberta, nabbing 89 percent support, but it also received significant support from survey takers in other provinces, including Quebec and British Columbia, where opposition to pipelines has been particularly pronounced.

Support was also high in Saskatchewan at 86 percent followed by Manitoba, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada all at 80 percent. British Columbia residents polled were 76 percent in favour and Quebec brought up the rear at 74 percent.