Oilsands opposition growing, poll finds

Environmental worries rising

Canadians are almost evenly divided over the merits of developing Alberta’s oilsands, with impressions worsening, Nanos Research polling says.

A survey of 1,000 Canadians showed that 45.1 per cent view development of oilsands reserves favourably, versus 48 per cent who see it as unfavourable. Thirty-five per cent of respondents reported having a worse impression of the oilsands than five years previously, with 19 per cent reporting having impressions that improved, Ottawa-based Nanos reported.

Canada’s energy industry has struggled to win broad public support for infrastructure projects it says are needed to move oil to new markets. The public resistance is partly because of mounting criticism that environmental costs are too high, concerns that have stalled pipeline projects such as TransCanada Corp.’s Keystone XL.

Production of bitumen is forecast to more than double by 2030, according to the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. The federal Environment Department has identified bitumen production as Canada’s fastest-growing source of carbon emissions.

The Nanos survey found that opponents of oilsands development are concerned mostly about the environmental impact, while those in favour are attracted to the economic benefits. Men and residents of the Prairie provinces tend to have the more favourable views.

The telephone poll, taken Nov. 15-18, has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points.