Facing U.S. tariffs, Canadians are uniting with the realization that it’s time to take control of our economic security. Nearly four out of five Canadians are now in agreement over the need for new pipelines to our coastlines, something that we here at Canada Action have been advocating for well over a decade.
As a reminder, oil and natural gas is Canada’s largest export and helps us “pay the bills” for everything we have to import, along with the rest of our natural resources, which together make up 50% of our total exports every year.
The poll, conducted by the Angus Reid Institute, has revealed overwhelming support among Canadians for expanding pipeline infrastructure to both coasts, with 79% of respondents either “strongly agreeing” or “somewhat agreeing” that Canada needs oil and gas pipelines extending from sea to sea.
This strong consensus comes at a crucial time as Canada faces potential U.S. tariffs and the ongoing need to diversify our energy export markets to secure a stronger and more prosperous future for our country.
Respondents were asked to agree or disagree with the following statement:
“Canada needs to ensure it has oil and gas pipelines running from sea to sea across the country.”
Below are the results for each respective group and province polled:
- Strongly agree: 52%
- Agree: 27%
- Disagree: 18%
- Strongly disagree: 4%
(Total Agree: 79%, Total Disagree: 22%)
- Strongly agree: 41%
- Agree: 35%
- Disagree: 20%
- Strongly disagree: 4%
(Total Agree: 76%, Total Disagree: 24%)
- Strongly agree: 60%
- Agree: 29%
- Disagree: 7%
- Strongly disagree: 4%
(Total Agree: 89%, Total Disagree: 11%)
- Strongly agree: 51%
- Agree: 35%
- Disagree: 11%
- Strongly disagree: 3%
(Total Agree: 86%, Total Disagree: 11%)
- Strongly agree: 40%
- Agree: 40%
- Disagree: 15%
- Strongly disagree: 6%
(Total Agree: 80%, Total Disagree: 19%)
- Strongly agree: 40%
- Agree: 40%
- Disagree: 16%
- Strongly disagree: 4%
(Total Agree: 80%, Total Disagree: 20%)
- Strongly agree: 27%
- Agree: 47%
- Disagree: 22%
- Strongly disagree: 4%
(Total Agree: 74%, Total Disagree: 26%)
- Strongly agree: 52%
- Agree: 27%
- Disagree: 18%
- Strongly disagree: 3%
(Total Agree: 79%, Total Disagree: 21%)
Poll shows public support for reviving Energy East, seven years after pipeline’s cancellation https://t.co/QUZexarWZJ
— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) February 11, 2025
The poll's findings demonstrate remarkable unity across regional lines, suggesting Canadians now recognize the strategic importance of energy infrastructure for our national economic security.
As we have been saying for over a decade, we must get behind all sources of Canadian energy and focus on the reality of global energy consumption.
This significant level of public backing for new east-west pipeline infrastructure arrives as Canada grapples with limited market access for its energy resources.
The poll indicates Canadians understand that relying too heavily on a single export market – the United States – puts the health of our economy at unnecessary risk, particularly in light of potential new tariffs and trade tensions.
Canada Must Return to its Resource-Building Roots and Secure Our Economic Futurehttps://t.co/Q0bUDtcXRY
— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) February 11, 2025
But let's not forget that this current public support stands in stark contrast to Canada's recent track record on major pipeline projects.
Two proposed pipelines that could have transformed Canada's energy export capabilities – Northern Gateway and Energy East – were cancelled largely due to regulatory challenges and a lack of government support.
We also saw countless LNG projects cancelled while the USA, Australia and others actually got countless facilities built.
The Northern Gateway Pipeline, which would have connected Alberta's oil sands to the Pacific coast, was cancelled in 2016 after facing numerous regulatory hurdles and a lack of government support. Similarly, the Energy East Pipeline project, designed to transport oil from Western Canada to refineries in Eastern Canada and a marine terminal in New Brunswick, was abandoned in 2017 by its proponent largely due to newly introduced regulatory requirements.
These past project cancellations offer important lessons for Canada's future pipeline infrastructure development.
Both Northern Gateway and Energy East fell victim to protracted and unpredictable regulatory processes that ultimately proved fatal to these nation-building projects.
Energy East's proponent spent over $1 billion on regulatory processes before cancellation in 2017 due to ever-expanding regulatory requirements. Northern Gateway secured approval in 2014 only to face new regulatory hurdles and eventual cancellation in 2016 despite support from 80% of Indigenous communities along its route.
These cases demonstrate that Canada urgently needs a more efficient, predictable regulatory framework that provides investors with more certainty - because no company will risk billions on major infrastructure projects when the regulatory goalposts keep moving.
The failure of both Energy East and Northern Gateway revealed another critical lesson for Canadians: major infrastructure projects cannot succeed without clear support from government leaders.
Despite widespread public and Indigenous support for these projects, a lack of decisive government backing ultimately contributed to their demise.
As Canada faces new economic challenges and the urgent need to diversify its export markets, our government leaders must move beyond rhetoric and demonstrate genuine commitment to getting these critical infrastructure projects built. This includes streamlining approval processes and standing firm against targeted opposition campaigns by activists who do not speak for the large majority of Canadians and Indigenous peoples who want resource development.
The cancellation of both Northern Gateway and Energy East sent troubling signals about regulatory certainty in Canada. Northern Gateway in particular had already secured federal approval in 2014 following extensive consultation with Indigenous communities, but then had its approval pulled by the federal government just a few years later.
When governments change course after projects have met rigorous regulatory requirements and received approvals, it undermines investor confidence and our reputation as a reliable jurisdiction for major infrastructure development.
For Canada to successfully build future pipelines, we must ensure that once projects clear our stringent regulatory processes and receive approval, those decisions are respected and upheld regardless of changing governments.
In wake of Trump tariff threats, majority of Canadians support Energy East, Northern Gateway. https://t.co/ROu6QM2Wfm
— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) February 10, 2025
The strong public support shown in this poll suggests Canadians are ready to move forward and learn from these past experiences. With 79% of Canadians backing pipeline development, there's a clear mandate for action to strengthen our energy infrastructure and reduce dependence on a single export market.
Looking ahead, Canada must seize this opportunity to build the infrastructure needed to reach global markets. This isn't just about pipelines – it's about developing a comprehensive network of transportation infrastructure including roads, railways, and ports to enable all our natural resource sectors – from energy to forestry, mining, and agriculture – to reach new international markets effectively and help us take control of our economic destiny.
The message from Canadians is clear: it's time to build Canada up. We need to expedite the approval and construction of new infrastructure projects while maintaining high standards and fostering meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities. By doing so, we can ensure Canada's vast natural resources contribute to global energy security while generating tangible economic benefits for all Canadians.
The strong public consensus revealed in this poll should serve as a catalyst for action. With nearly four out of five Canadians supporting pipeline development, the path forward is clear – it's time to transform this public support into concrete action and build the infrastructure Canada needs to secure its economic future.
Energy, mining, food, and forestry products make up 50% of Canada’s exports, which help us pay for everything we import.
— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) February 8, 2025
We must ensure we are competitive for job-creating investment and build the railways, roads, ports, and pipelines required to diversify our trade. pic.twitter.com/wkJaGfALKV