B.C., Alberta residents see Northern Gateway issue differently

NEWS — While nearly a third of Canadians are unsure whether the Harper government made the right decision to conditionally approve the Northern Gateway pipeline, people have no doubt the pipeline will be built.

And British Columbians and Albertans have markedly different opinions about the project.

Those conclusions are reached in a new poll by Angus Reid Global, the results of which were released today. The survey was done online Tuesday after the federal government’s announcement.

It shows Canadians are split over whether the decision to allow Enbridge to build an oil pipeline through northern Alberta and B.C. – provided it meets 209 conditions – was the correct one. Just over one-third (37 per cent) say they think the decision was right. About the same number (34 per cent) say the decision was wrong and nearly one-third (29 per cent) say they aren’t sure.

Asked about the 209 conditions, 43 per cent said they are enough to address concerns about the project, while 37 per cent said they’re not enough, and 20 per cent said they weren’t sure.

When asked what factor should take greater priority in shaping the country’s energy policy, the majority of Canadians – 58 per cent – said protecting the environment is the biggest priority, while 42 per cent said the biggest priority is encouraging economic growth.

Regardless of their views on energy versus the environment, respondents had little doubt about the future of the Northern Gateway project. Nearly seven-in-10 (68 per cent) said regardless of how they feel about the pipeline, it will actually be built.

A look at regional responses reveals British Columbians and Albertans are neighbours with nothing in common on this issue, said ARG.

British Columbians see the decision as wrong more than two-to-one over Albertans (40 per cent to 18 per cent). Thirty-Eight per cent of B.C. respondents said the Harper government’s decision was right, while 58 per cent of Albertans said the same.

Further east, the highest levels of opposition to the pipeline were in Quebec (40 per cent) followed by those in Ontario (35 per cent). The highest levels of support outside Alberta are in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (44 per cent).

In B.C. – nearly one-quarter (25 per cent) said the conditions “don’t even begin to address” concerns. In Alberta, about as many (28 per cent) said the conditions are “more than enough” to address concerns.

ARG said the poll included 1,773 respondents and is considered accurate within plus or minus 2.3 per cent, 19 times out of 20.