An incredible new poll has found that most Canadians support domestic oil and gas development as our country continues to navigate an increasingly challenging trade relationship with our largest export market and trading partner.
According to polling by Yorkville Strategies, a whopping 96% of Canadians want to diversify our country’s trading partners, 91% say Canada should expand its oil and natural gas exporting abilities, and 89% now want to build more refineries and LNG terminals [1].
In addition, 86% of Quebecers and 92% of British Columbians now support pipelines, significantly higher than in past polls. Also, 82% of Canadians say that Canada should fast-track oil and gas development permits.
On a project basis, 82% of respondents supported a new Northern Gateway pipeline to ship Alberta’s energy off the West Coast. Furthermore, 84% said they would support a new Energy East pipeline that would ship oil from Southern Alberta to central and eastern Canadian provinces, including 77% support in Quebec.
The poll was conducted in mid-February on behalf of Alberta and had 1,741 respondents, with a 2.3% margin of error 19 times out of 20.
Canadians are coming around to the fact that without new trade and energy infrastructure like pipelines to diversify our markets, our economy is largely susceptible to the whims of U.S. policy. Canada Action has been advocating for the diversification of our
- Quebec Supports Revival of Oil & Natural Gas Pipelines Amid Tariffs: POLL
- 79% of Canadians “Agree” Our Country Needs New Pipelines from Sea to Sea: POLL
- Majority of Canadians See Oil & Gas as “Important” to Current Economy: POLL
Poll Highlights: Canada
- 96% of Canadians want to diversify Canada’s trading partners
- 95% support buying Canadian-made products and services
- 91% say Canada should expand its ability to export oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG)
- 89% now want to build more refineries and LNG terminals
- 84% support a new Energy East pipeline from Alberta to the Maritimes
- 82% support a new Northern Gateway pipeline from Alberta to B.C.
- 82% say Canada should fast-track oil and gas permits
Poll Highlights: Provinces
- 92% of British Columbians support pipelines
- 86% of Quebecers support pipelines
- 81% of British Columbians support a new Northern Gateway pipeline
- 77% of Quebecers support a new Energy East pipeline
Canada is at a Crossroads: Will We Act?
The message from Canadians is clear - we must act now to take control of our economic destiny. Moving forward, Canada must get serious about:
- Expediting new pipelines, powerlines, ports, railways, roads, and other associated trade and infrastructure to diversify our export markets
- Reducing unnecessary regulatory barriers that discourage investment and create uncertainty
- Supporting Indigenous partnerships in resource development, ushering in economic reconciliation
- Strengthening our position as a reliable global supplier of natural resources including energy, forestry, mining, agriculture and aquaculture products
With $670 billion in cancelled or suspended resource projects since 2015, Canadians can no longer afford to miss out on these nation-building opportunities. Our vast natural resources represent not just economic potential but a path to global supply chain stability, Indigenous economic reconciliation, and improved prosperity for future generations.
As our premiers have emphasized, from B.C.'s David Eby to Newfoundland's Andrew Furey, the time for endless assessments and regulatory delays is over. We must streamline approval processes, build critical infrastructure, and establish new trade relationships that will reduce our over-dependence on a single market.
It's Time to Build Canadian Prosperity
With natural resources accounting for 21% of our economy, 3 million jobs, and 50% of our exports, the stakes couldn't be higher. These sectors generate billions in revenue that pay for essential services like healthcare and education while paying for the goods and services we import and rely on daily.
The choice is ours: we can seize this moment to secure long-term prosperity and maximize the value of our resources, or we can remain vulnerable to foreign trade policies and be worse off. The overwhelming support shown in recent polls demonstrates that Canadians understand what's at stake and are ready to build our country's future together.
The time to act is now. Our economic security and future prosperity depend on it.
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SOURCES:
1 - https://edmontonjournal.com/opinion/david-staples-astonishing-new-poll-presents-a-major-threat-to-carney-liberals