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Pipeline Problems? Try Tanker Troubles: BC Kinder Morgan opponents want spill response assurances – Angus Reid Institute

by pmnationtalk on April 18, 2018387 Views

Slim majority of Canadians, British Columbians now support pipeline project; opposition remains strong

April 18, 2018 –  The reassertion of jurisdictional issues in the battle between B.C. and Alberta over the completion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline project is sharpening public opinion on the matter.

But, while more Canadians appear to be losing patience with the B.C. government’s delay tactics, British Columbians themselves remain anxious, troubled and alarmed by the risks associated with a tanker spill in Vancouver’s Burrard Inlet. They’re also largely unconvinced that current spill response plans are up to the mark.

That said, the vast majority of British Columbians – including one-third who currently oppose the project – say a court ruling that its provincial government does not have the constitutional authority to block the project would be enough to give in and allow the pipeline to be twinned.

Political attempts to strong-arm B.C. – such as Alberta cutting back oil exports to the province or Ottawa withholding infrastructure dollars – appear to be less effective in getting those currently opposed to the project to say “yes”.

More Key Findings:

  • Two-in-three Canadians (65%) now say the B.C. government is wrong to try to block the pipeline, a 10-percentage-point increase since February
  • The possibility of an oil spill off the coast Metro Vancouver looms large in the minds of B.C. residents, saying by a margin of five-to-one that it is the single biggest concern they have about the TransMountain project
  • Asked which leaders in the conflict are doing a good or bad job, just over four-in-ten Canadians say Rachel Notley has done a good job (43%). Fewer say this of the Prime Minister (36%) and B.C. Premier John Horgan (30%)
  • British Columbians are deeply divided on the overall risks and benefits of the pipeline. Some 35 per cent say the environmental risk outweighs the economic benefit. The same number (35%) say the opposite, and the rest (30%) say the risks and benefits are about equal

INDEX:

  • Part 1 – The national view
    • Pipeline support is increasing
    • Who’s doing a good job here?
  • Part 2 – British Columbia’s view
    • More support than opposition for TransMountain
    • Concerns are more about tankers than pipelines
    • Risk versus reward? No consensus
  • Part 3 – Room for movement?
    • Little support for moving the terminus
    • Opponents say federal government should incentivize, not punish, B.C.
    • For many, Supreme Court decision should end opposition
  • Part 4 – Political implications

Part 1 – The national view

Pipeline support is increasing

The events of the past two weeks have arguably done more to focus national attention on Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline project than the last two years or more. The company’s ultimatum demanding delays end and hurdles to project completion be cleared by May 31 prompted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to reassert the federal government’s jurisdictionon the file, reminding opponents that his cabinet had already approved it. This had little effect on B.C. Premier John Horgan’s legal and regulatory attempts to stop the pipeline that runs from Alberta to the British Columbia Coast from being twinned, however.

The stakes were further raised at an unprecedented three-way meeting between Trudeau, Horgan and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley on Sunday. The outcome: continued stalemate – with the added announcement that Trudeau would pursue financial and legislative avenues to keep Kinder Morgan from walking away.

Against this backdrop, the proportion of Canadians who say the government of British Columbia is wrong to oppose the pipeline has risen significantly – by nine percentage points – since the Angus Reid Institute last asked in February:

Read More: http://angusreid.org/kinder-morgan-transmountain/

NT4

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