The majority of Canadians are supportive of increasing oil exports to countries where energy production is less reliable, a recent Leger poll shows.
The poll, commissioned by the Modern Miracle Network, shows that roughly 60 percent of Canadians want to increase oil exports, a number that grew by seven percent over the last nine months after a similar survey was conducted last October.
Support grew the most among residents in Atlantic Canada (12 percent) and Ontario (11 percent), whereas Quebec was the only jurisdiction that showed substantive opposition to oil and gas exports.
“We are delighted to see an overwhelming majority of Canadians agree we are the best in the world and that Canadian carbon tech is the better solution to global environmental challenges,” Michael Binnion, executive director for Modern Miracle Network, told the Western Standard in a statement on Aug. 9.
The poll also found that more than half of Canadians (53 percent) believe the government should support the oil and gas sector.
Meanwhile, 60 percent of the respondents believe involving the indigenous community in oil and gas developments aids in reconciliation and helps to reduce poverty. That number also saw increases for some jurisdictions compared to the previous survey, growing by 17 percent in Atlantic Canada and 18 percent in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
“Energy is not a partisan issue, but a national issue that's ultimately about Canadian society,” Binnion told the Western Standard.
“We are particularly proud to see Canadians’ support for our industry’s contribution to the nation, and the planet, despite the narrative used by some politicians and media.”
The Leger poll, conducted online between July 8 and July 10, surveyed over 1,500 Canadians. No margin of error was provided.
The Epoch Times reached out to the Modern Miracle Network for comment but didn't hear back by publication time.
The survey findings are resonant with another poll conducted by Research Co. that shows an increase in favourable views of the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline project among British Columbians.
The Research Co. poll shows that 51 percent of British Columbians are supportive of the federal government’s decision to re-approve the Trans Mountain pipeline project, up six points since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in October 2021, according to a news release issued on Aug. 8.
Residents in Southern B.C. (66 percent), Northern B.C. (61 percent), and the Fraser Valley (58 percent) are more likely to hold positive views on the pipeline project. That number is lower in Metro Vancouver (50 percent) and Vancouver Island (41 percent).Roughly one-third of British Columbians (33 percent) still believe the project should be halted, but that number has dropped by eight percentage points compared to the October 2021 survey.
About seven-in-ten Albertans (69 percent) also agree with the re-approval of the Trans Mountain project, but that number fell by five percentage points compared to a similar Research Co. survey conducted in November 2020.
The Research Co. poll was conducted between July 29 to July 31, surveying 800 adult residents in B.C. and Alberta respectively. It carries a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
