Support for Trans Mountain expansion on rise in B.C.: poll
The proposed expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline has the support of more than half of British Columbians, but with plenty of caveats, including the minimal impact of threats from Alberta, according to a new poll.
In an online survey conducted Monday and Tuesday of 2,125 Canadian adults — half from British Columbia — the Angus Reid Institute has found that support in B.C. for the project is up to 54 per cent, an increase from the 48 per cent in a similar survey conducted in February.
This support runs through all parts of the province with 50 per cent of Metro Vancouver in favour, 54 per cent on Vancouver Island and 60 per cent of respondents in the rest of B.C.
But support for the idea of a pipeline doesn’t mean British Columbians aren’t worried about its related impacts, according to Angus Reid’s data. When asked to say which potential risk or danger related to the project they were most worried
about, 52 per cent of British Columbians listed an oil-tanker spill or accident. Just 12 per cent said they weren’t worried about any of the options listed, including the impact of fossil fuels, risk of pipeline spills, the impact of pipeline construction and tanker traffic “detracting from
natural beauty.”
Concerns about tanker accidents was No. 1 for both supporters (52 per cent) and opponents (54 per cent) of the project. When asked about weighing environmental risks against economic benefits, respondents in B.C. split roughly three ways: 35 per cent
said the benefits outweighed the risks, 30 per cent said they were about equal and 34 per cent said the risk was higher than the benefits.
When it came to how the federal government is approaching the issue, two-thirds of British Columbians — including 47 per cent of pipeline supporters — said incentives and compromise was the way forward, not taking a hard line.
However, more than two-thirds of British Columbians do say that if the courts rule that the B.C. government does not have the constitutional authority to block the pipeline, then it would be time to give in.
The poll also found that the pipeline is likely set to play a roll in coming elections with 51 per cent of Canadians — and 56 per cent of British Columbians — saying it is one of the most important factors in deciding their federal vote.
But three in 10 Canadians (as well as federal voters in B.C.) said they were undecided who they would vote for in the next federal election.
Rating the performance of the leaders, 42 per cent of respondents said Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has done a good job, compared to 36 per cent for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and just 31 per cent for B.C. Premier John Horgan.