Support is particularly strong among Albertans (80%), Canadians aged 55 and older (72%), men (72%), and both Liberal (76%) and Conservative (77%) voters.
Canadians Want Key Stakeholders Involved
While support for energy expansion is widespread, Canadians also believe key stakeholders should have a voice before a new pipeline moves forward.
Nearly six in ten Canadians (59%) say approval from the Government of British Columbia is important, while 54% say the same about approval from Indigenous organizations. In both cases, roughly one-third of Canadians believe approval should be absolutely required before a new pipeline proceeds.
Net-Zero Remains Important to Most Canadians
The survey also shows that climate objectives continue to matter to Canadians.
A majority (53%) say it is important for Canada to achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2050, compared with 35% who say it is not important. Support for the target is strongest among younger Canadians aged 18 to 34 (64%), Liberal voters (70%), and NDP voters (77%).
At the same time, support for net-zero appears to have softened over the past several years. In April 2021, 68% of Canadians supported the goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, compared with 53% today.
Key Takeaways
- 66% of Canadians support measures to expand Alberta’s oil and natural gas sector.
- Most Canadians believe approval from British Columbia (59%) and Indigenous organizations (54%) is important before a new pipeline proceeds.
- A majority of Canadians (53%) continue to view Canada’s 2050 net-zero target as important.
- Support for net-zero remains majority-held but has declined compared with 2021 levels.
Methodology
An online survey of 1,532 Canadians aged 18 or older was conducted from May 29 to June 1, 2026, using Leger’s LEO panel. Results were weighted according to key demographic variables to ensure a representative sample of the Canadian population. For comparison purposes, a probability sample of this size would have a margin of error of ±2.50%, 19 times out of 20.
