Less support for TMX pipeline, new Vancouver survey says

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Less support, but the same level of opposition.

That’s the latest findings from a survey about the controversial Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion. A Vancouver-based polster found even though less and less people are in support of the federal government’s continued expansion, opposition to it hasn’t increased.

Mario Canseco’s Research Co. poll found that around 45 per cent of people in B.C. still support the project, but 34 per cent remain opposed — the same level of opposition seen in a similar survey 2 years ago.

“I think it has a lot to do with the fact that it has really been an issue that has been under the radar, not a lot of discussions provincially or federally when it comes to this particular project,” Canseco said.

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The latest Research Co. survey finds two-in-three respondents still believe the project will provide jobs, but more than half think Ottawa hasn’t handled the pipeline well since it purchased it in 2018.

Designed to bring Alberta oil to Burnaby, the TMX expansion was originally going to cost taxpayers around $5 billion to finish, but costs have now ballooned to at least $12.5 billion.

Canseco says their analysis suggests people’s minds may also be focused on other environmental issues, such as old-growth logging or fracking.

“We’re used to having more than 50 per cent of British Columbians in favor of the pipeline expansion. Now it’s dropped to the 40s, but there’s no increase in the level of opposition,” he said. “If we’ve seen anything over the past 12 months, it’s that we have more people who are undecided on whether this should actually happen.”

Canseco suggests this may be due to other issues also dominating the headlines.

“We had a situation where mayors … were definitely coming out against this. We have people who were arrested, and now we’re in a standstill in a way that there are some other issues that are definitely more prevalent for B.C. residents.”