VANCOUVER, Feb. 7, 2014 /CNW/ - The debate over new pipelines is far from settled in British Columbia, with the province equally divided over the issue according to a new poll released today by Dimitri Pantazopoulos of Maple Leaf Strategies.
48 per cent of British Columbians said they support developing oil pipelines to connect Alberta's oil resources with the west coast to allow for exports. 46 per cent say they oppose development. The question was asked as part of Winning Ways, a syndicated research study conducted by Maple Leaf Strategies.
These results are in line with another recent survey conducted by Maple Leaf Strategies in December that found that 47 per cent of British Columbians now support the Northern Gateway pipeline project.
"These results demonstrate that British Columbians are equally split on pipeline development and that the issue is far from decided," said Dimitri Pantazopoulos, Partner at Maple Leaf Strategies. Pantazopoulos received national accolades as the only pollster to accurately predict the outcome of the 2013 provincial election.
The December survey, sponsored by the BC Chamber of Commerce, found that support for Northern Gateway pipeline increases to 63 per cent if the project can meet Premier Christy Clark's five conditions for all new heavy oil pipelines.
The live telephone survey of 800 adult British Columbians was conducted between January 28, 2014 and February 2, 2014 and has a margin of error of +/- 3.5%, nineteen times out of twenty. The survey is a syndicated study, conducted by Maple Leaf Strategies.
Maple Leaf Strategies is a public affairs, government relations, communications and research firm with offices in Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.
Winning Ways
January 28 - February 2, 2014
N=800, Margin of Error +3.5%
Currently, there are a number of natural resource development projects being considered in British Columbia. Overall, do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose each of the following projects moving forward.
Developing oil pipelines to connect Alberta's oil resources with the west coast to allow for exports.
Strongly support | 25% |
Somewhat support | 23% |
Neither support nor oppose | 4% |
Somewhat oppose | 15% |
Strongly oppose | 31% |
Don't know/ Refused | 1% |
Question Results
November 22-29, 2013
n=1,050 - Margin of Error + 3.0%
As you may know, the Northern Gateway Pipelines Project is a proposal to build an underground pipeline system between near Edmonton, Alberta and Kitimat, in northern BC. One pipeline will transport oil to Kitimat for export. A second pipeline will be used to import condensate (a product used to thin oil products for pipeline transport) to Alberta.
Based on what you know to date, would you say that you generally support or oppose the Northern Gateway Pipelines Project?
Strongly support | 27 |
Somewhat support | 20 |
Somewhat oppose | 12 |
Strongly oppose | 32 |
Don't know | 9 |
As you know, the Government of British Columbia has introduced five conditions that must be met to for British Columbia to consider support of any heavy oil pipeline projects. The five conditions include successful completion of the environmental review process, addressing the legal requirements regarding Aboriginal treaty rights, establishing world leading marine oil spill prevention and response systems, establishing world leading land spill response and prevention, and ensuring fiscal and economic benefits to British Columbia. If at some point in the future, the Government of British Columbia determined that all five of its requirements for heavy oil pipeline projects had been met by the Northern Gateway Pipelines Project, would you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose or strongly oppose the project?
Strongly support | 37 |
Somewhat support | 26 |
Somewhat oppose | 10 |
Strongly oppose | 25 |
Don't know | 2 |
Refused | 1 |
SOURCE: Maple Leaf Strategies
Dimitri Pantazopoulos
Partner
Maple Leaf Strategies
T: 778-588-6222
M: 250-588-1345
[email protected]
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