A significant proportion of Canadians and British Columbians are in favour of resource development projects, a new Research Co. poll conducted on behalf of LNG Canada — a liquefied natural gas project currently under construction in Kitimat, B.C. — has found.
In the online survey of representative samples, 79 per cent of Canadians and 71 per cent of British Columbians express support for resource development projects. In addition, 61 per cent of respondents across the country and 51 per cent of those located in the westernmost province agree they are “tired of nothing getting built” in Canada and British Columbia — a proportion that rises to 67 per cent in northern B.C.
Seven-in-ten Canadians (70 per cent) believe the “national economy will suffer if we can’t build resource projects.” In British Columbia, 63 per cent feel this way about the possible effect on the provincial economy, including 74 per cent of those in northern B.C.
More than half of Canadians (54 per cent) believe the country’s reputation “is harmed by protests against resource development projects.” In British Columbia, 52 per cent express the same sentiment about the effect of protests against resource development projects, and fewer than a quarter (23 per cent) think it’s possible to have unanimous support for resource development projects.
“When asked what would make them more likely to support resource development projects, a majority of British Columbians (57 per cent) want assurances that the impact on the environment is limited,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Other important considerations are guaranteeing that Canadians will get the first opportunity to work on the project (53 per cent) and providing training and apprenticeship opportunities for young Canadians (46 per cent).”
Seven-in-ten British Columbians (70 per cent) foresee a positive economic impact from LNG Canada’s liquefied natural gas export project in Kitimat, B.C., which is scheduled to deliver its first LNG cargo before mid-next decade. Broken down by region, over half of Vancouver Island residents (56 per cent), two thirds of Metro Vancouverites (67 per cent) and 86 per cent of those in northern B.C. anticipate a positive economic impact from the project.
“LNG Canada has received significant support from First Nations at the facility and along the shipping route, as well as from northern communities overall,” says Susannah Pierce, LNG Canada’s Director, External Relations. “We are committed to these supporters. A project like ours is vital to the creation of training, employment and contracting opportunities, and we’re pleased to see that British Columbians and Canadians recognize the importance of resource projects as drivers of the Canadian economy.”
The poll also revealed that at least three-in-five Canadians have a positive opinion of four energy sources: wind (80 per cent), hydropower (76 per cent), natural gas (69 per cent) and geothermal (61 per cent). Canadians are divided on oil, with 43 per cent having positive views and 46 per cent having a negative opinion. The lowest ranked energy source for Canadians is coal, with 24 per cent of residents expressing a positive view.
Three-in-five Canadians (60 per cent) believe Canada has a responsibility to “export natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in other countries.” LNG exported from LNG Canada’s facility can displace the use of coal for power generation, reducing global GHGs by 60 to 90 mtpa, which is the equivalent of all GHGs produced in British Columbia annually.
In the online survey of representative samples, 79 per cent of Canadians and 71 per cent of British Columbians express support for resource development projects. In addition, 61 per cent of respondents across the country and 51 per cent of those located in the westernmost province agree they are “tired of nothing getting built” in Canada and British Columbia — a proportion that rises to 67 per cent in Northern B.C.
Seven-in-ten Canadians (70 per cent) believe the “national economy will suffer if we can’t build resource projects.” In British Columbia, 63 per cent feel this way about the possible effect in the provincial economy, including 74 per cent of those in northern B.C.
More than half of Canadians (54 per cent) believe the country’s reputation “is harmed by protests against resource development projects”. In British Columbia, 52 per cent express the same sentiment about the effect of protests against resource development projects, and fewer than a quarter (23 per cent) think it’s possible to have unanimous support for resource development projects.
“When asked what would make them more likely to support resource development projects, a majority of British Columbians (57 per cent) want assurances that the impact in the environment is limited,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “Other important considerations are guaranteeing that Canadians will get the first opportunity to work on the project (53 per cent) and providing training and apprenticeship opportunities for young Canadians (46 per cent).”
Seven-in-ten British Columbians (70 per cent) foresee a positive economic impact from LNG Canada’s liquefied natural gas export project in Kitimat, B.C., which is scheduled to deliver first LNG cargo mid-next decade. Broken down by region, over half of Vancouver Island residents (56 per cent), two thirds of Metro Vancouverites (67 per cent) and 86 per cent of those in northern B.C. anticipate a positive economic impact from the project.
“LNG Canada has received significant support from First Nations at the facility and along the shipping route, as well as from northern communities overall,” says Susannah Pierce, LNG Canada’s Director, External Relations. “We are committed to these supporters. A project like ours is vital to the creation of training, employment and contracting opportunities, and we’re pleased to see that British Columbians and Canadians recognize the importance of resource projects as drivers of the Canadian economy.”
The poll also revealed that at least three-in-five Canadians have a positive opinion of four energy sources: wind (80 per cent), hydropower (76 per cent), natural gas (69 per cent) and geothermal (61 per cent). Canadians are divided on oil, with 43 per cent having positive views and 46 per cent having a negative opinion. The lowest ranked energy source for Canadians is coal, with 24 per cent of residents expressing a positive view.
Three-in-five Canadians (60 per cent) believe Canada has a responsibility to “export natural gas to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) in other countries.” LNG exported from LNG Canada’s facility can displace the use of coal for power generation, reducing global GHGs by 60 to 90 mtpa, which is the equivalent of all GHGs produced in British Columbia annually.”
