en.Wedoany.com Reported - A recent poll released by the Pembina Institute shows that 60% of Albertans oppose using taxpayer funds to build new oil pipelines, while two-thirds of respondents believe the province's economy is overly dependent on oil and gas.
The survey, conducted by Winnipeg-based market research firm Probe Research in April and May of this year, found that public opinion on energy policy diverges from the priorities of the provincial government and oil and gas industry leaders. The institute stated in a release that the study used a "convenience sample" method, making it impossible to calculate a margin of error.
Although Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have both pledged that new pipelines will only proceed through private financing, pressure over the need for taxpayer subsidies has persisted for months. The Pembina Institute emphasized that the concept of building a new pipeline to the West Coast is often used as a symbol of Alberta's sovereignty.
Specifically, the poll results show that 61% of respondents somewhat or strongly oppose using taxpayer money to build new pipelines when oil companies are unwilling to invest, while 25% support it. 67% agree that the province's economy is too dependent on oil and gas, with 25% disagreeing. About 60% of respondents believe industrial carbon pricing helps reduce emissions and supports the development of new industries. 49% agree that if Alberta fails to adequately address climate change, the federal government should implement its own policies, while 38% disagree.
Janetta McKenzie, director of oil and gas at the Pembina Institute, said in a statement that Albertans know something is wrong when the industry itself is not eager to invest. She noted that despite being told for years that another pipeline would solve all economic problems, residents have sent a clear signal: if private companies still do not see a sufficient business case to invest their own funds, taxpayer money must not be used for such projects. She added that while politicians may be inclined to build a pipeline at almost any cost amid discussions of Alberta separatism, most residents want politicians to propose a sound economic plan rather than focusing solely on oil and gas and allowing a single industry to continue dominating the agenda.
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