Poll: 63% of Canadians support pipeline projects

Key Takeaways:

• Majority support exists across Canada for both the proposed Alberta-to-British Columbia pipeline and the newly proposed Alberta-to-Ontario Northern Shield project
• The pipeline routed to the West Coast enjoys stronger public awareness and has managed to capture support from most British Columbians due to its plan to follow the pre-existing Trans Mountain corridor
• Public support for these projects remains somewhat fluid with roughly half of Canadians open to changing their minds and significant opposition rooted in concerns over renewable energy investments

The Whole Story

A majority of Canadians support two major new proposed pipeline projects designed to carry Alberta oil to both the West Coast and Ontario, according to a new public opinion poll.

The survey, released Thursday by the non-profit Angus Reid Institute, shows that 63% of Canadians support a newly proposed pipeline from Alberta to B.C. following the existing Trans Mountain corridor. Furthermore, 55% back the Northern Shield Energy Corridor, a recently announced 3,300-kilometre project proposed to link Hardisty, Alta., to refineries in Sarnia, Ont.

While both projects enjoy majority support, the poll suggests that public opinion remains fluid. Only about half of respondents said they have completely made up their minds, with 33% of Canadians noting that while they currently support the Alberta-to-B.C. pipeline, they could still be persuaded otherwise.

Economic benefits are driving the positive sentiment. Among supporters of the B.C. project, 55% cited the diversification of Canada’s oil markets away from the United States as a compelling factor, while 51% pointed to the general importance of oil to the national economy.

The proposed B.C. project, formally presented by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to Prime Minister Mark Carney at the Calgary Stampede, aims to ship one million barrels of oil per day. The pipeline is designed to follow the existing Trans Mountain pipeline corridor, bypassing federal tanker bans on B.C.’s northern coast. This specific route choice has helped blunt traditional West Coast opposition, with 62% of British Columbians supporting the proposal, and 40% of those noting the pre-existing pathway as a key reason.

In contrast, the proposed Alberta-to-Ontario pipeline—dubbed the Northern Shield Energy Corridor—is still in its infancy. Unveiled on July 6 by Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the project is designed to initially transport approximately 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day to Sarnia. Unlike the former, broader Energy East project that sought an Atlantic export terminal, Northern Shield is being framed around domestic energy security and reducing reliance on U.S. transit routes. No private-sector developer or cost estimates have been established, and a feasibility study is not expected until the end of 2026.

Awareness of the Ontario proposal remains relatively low, with 41% of Canadians saying they had not heard of it prior to the survey, compared to just 8% who were unaware of the B.C. proposal. Despite the lack of familiarity, 58% of Ontario residents support the project, compared to 25% who oppose it.

Environmental concerns represent the primary source of opposition for both projects. Nationally, 41% of Canadians argued that the country should prioritize investments in renewable energy instead of new pipelines, while 34% expressed concern that average Canadians would not see economic benefits sufficient to outweigh the high cost of construction.

Opposition is strongest in Quebec, where 50% of respondents oppose the B.C. project and 38% oppose the Sarnia corridor. Politically, the issue is highly polarized; 85% of federal Conservative voters support the B.C. project, compared to 57% of Liberals, 27% of New Democrats, and 29% of Bloc Québécois supporters.

The Angus Reid Institute conducted the online survey from July 10 to 14, 2026, among a randomized sample of 2,649 Canadian adults who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would carry a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.