Majority of Canadians support construction of East-West oil and gas pipeline, poll finds

Nearly three-quarters of Canadians support an East-West pipeline for oil and liquefied natural gas, a new poll suggests, while nearly half oppose removing the carbon price on large industrial emitters.

The survey, conducted by Nanos Research for The Globe and Mail and CTV News, found that 58 per cent of respondents said they support a pipeline with facilities on both coasts, while 15 per cent of respondents somewhat support it. Only 18 per cent said they were opposed.

The poll surveyed 1,233 Canadian adults from April 8-10, and is accurate within 2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Support for a pipeline was highest in the Prairies, at 88 per cent, while the lowest was in Quebec, where nearly half of people said they somewhat or strongly supported the idea. Regional numbers have larger margins of error because of smaller samples.

The discussion around pipelines has heated up amid rising trade tensions with the United States, as proponents argue that new pipelines would allow Canada to diversify energy exports.

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has promised a number of changes on the energy file, including creating a national energy corridor to fast-track approvals for pipelines and other infrastructure. He has said the Liberal record in energy policy has left Canada more vulnerable to U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Mark Carney has said that he plans to make Canada a conventional and green energy superpower.

“Basically, we have an emerging national consensus in terms of having an East-West pipeline,” said pollster Nik Nanos in an interview.

Regardless of who wins the election, energy will likely be a key part of the next government’s agenda, he said.

Both parties have also made promises on carbon pricing. Mr. Carney, as Prime Minister, set the federal carbon charge on gasoline, natural gas and other fuels to zero, while he has also promised to make large emitters pay more, including by layering on another industrial carbon price.

Mr. Poilievre, who has campaigned against carbon pricing, more commonly known as the carbon tax, has promised to remove the industrial price.

When asked, nearly half of respondents said they oppose removing the industrial carbon levy, while about 39 per cent support removing it.

Nanos Research also asked about the impact Mr. Trump’s tariff actions would have on Canadians’ personal finances.

Fifty-three per cent of respondents said they think their personal finances will be negatively impacted, while 23 per cent indicated the impact will be somewhat negative. Respondents over the age of 55 were the most likely to say it would have a negative impact.

Respondents also largely supported the government supporting workers impacted by U.S. tariffs, with about 65 per cent saying they support or somewhat support the move even if it increases the deficit and government debt.

“I think it gives licence to parties to have bigger deficits for a purpose,” said Mr. Nanos.

The federal government has taken a number of actions to support workers affected by the tariffs, including waiving the one-week waiting period to claim employment insurance.

Mr. Carney has said that every dollar raised from the countertariffs will go toward supporting impacted workers, but has not released details.

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh agrees with this, and is proposing measures like expanding Employment Insurance.

Mr. Poilievre has proposed measures such as cutting income taxes and implementing a business-liquidity support program.

The poll by Nanos Research, conducted for The Globe and Mail and CTV, surveyed 1,233 Canadians from April 8 to 10. It has a margin of error of 2.8 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Respondents were asked the following questions: Do you support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or oppose an East-West pipeline for oil and liquefied natural gas with facilities on both coasts; would you support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or oppose also removing the carbon price on large industrial emitters of greenhouse gases?; do you support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or oppose the government financially supporting workers negatively impacted by new US tariffs even if this increases the deficit and government debt; and do you think that U.S. President Trump’s tariff actions against Canada will have a positive, a somewhat positive, a somewhat negative, a negative or no impact on your personal finances?

The full methodology for all surveys can be found at: tgam.ca/polls