A majority of Canadians support oil pipelines and say the lack of new pipeline capacity in the country is a "crisis," according to a survey by the Angus Reid Institute.
The institute surveyed 4,024 Canadian adults between December 21 and January 3, and found that 58% affirmed that the lack of new oil pipeline capacity constitutes a "crisis," while 42% said it does not.
But responses varied widely across provinces, with a high of 87% of Albertans polled calling it a crisis. At the low end, only 40% of Quebecers had a similar sentiment. Results from the rest of Canada were divided, with 61% calling the issue a crisis in Ontario, Manitoba and the Atlantic provinces, while Saskatchewan polled at 74% and B.C. was close to deadlocked with a slight edge toward "crisis" at 53%.
These results were further informed by a survey question asking participants to choose the top two or three economic industries they feel are most critical to Canada. Two-thirds or respondents said the oil and gas industry is most critical, while agriculture finished second.
In terms of Canadians' impressions of the Trans Mountain and Energy East pipelines, 53% of respondents voiced support for both projects, while 19% opposed both and 17% couldn't decide. Comparing age groups on pipeline issues, the survey found the majority of Canadians ages 18 to 34 were not supportive of pipelines, while little more than half of those age 35 to 54 were supportive, and those over the age of 55 expressed the most support for pipelines and labelled the lack of pipeline capacity a crisis.
