National support hits 60% as backing strengthens across the Prairies, Ontario and Atlantic Canada
Canadians are warming to the idea of a new oil pipeline linking Alberta to British Columbia’s northern coast, with support now reaching levels not seen in recent years, according to new polling from the Angus Reid Institute.
National support climbs as BC remains divided over another export route to the Pacific.
A growing majority of Canadians say they would back a pipeline carrying Alberta crude to the northwest coast of British Columbia, highlighting renewed public openness to energy infrastructure as policymakers and industry continue to debate how to expand the country’s export capacity.
The Angus Reid Institute found 60% of Canadians say they support the concept of an oil pipeline running from Alberta through northern British Columbia to the Pacific Coast. One-quarter oppose the proposal, while 15% are unsure.
Support is strongest in the Prairies, where 74% of Albertans and 74% of Saskatchewan residents favor the project. In Manitoba, support stands at 66%.
Ontario residents are also broadly supportive, with 61% backing the idea. In Atlantic Canada, support is similarly robust at 66%.
British Columbia, however, remains more evenly split. While 53% of residents say they could support the project, 37% oppose it, underscoring the challenge any proposal would face in securing political and social acceptance in the province.
Quebec remains the least supportive region, with 49% in favor and 33% opposed.
The findings suggest Canadians are increasingly receptive to new pipeline development as concerns about economic growth, energy security and market access gain prominence.
Still, support for a pipeline does not necessarily translate into support for expedited approvals or the removal of environmental safeguards. Previous Angus Reid polling has shown that while many Canadians endorse expanding energy infrastructure, enthusiasm can soften when questions turn to tanker traffic, spill risks and regulatory oversight.
For investors, the data point to a more favorable public environment for companies tied to Canadian energy transportation and export infrastructure. But any new proposal would still need to overcome regulatory hurdles, Indigenous consultations and persistent opposition in key regions, particularly on British Columbia’s coast.
