As the federal government’s agreement with Alberta to advance a new bitumen pipeline project continues to spark strong political reactions nationwide, a new Leger survey finds that 50% of Canadians still support the initiative — even amid rising tension, environmental concerns, and opposition from several Indigenous communities and provincial leaders.
Despite the controversy, the results suggest that Canadians remain generally favourable to the pipeline project, while also placing significant importance on environmental safeguards and the protection of Indigenous rights.
A Majority of Canadians in Favour of the New Pipeline
Amid the intense debate over the hypothetical construction of a bitumen pipeline from Alberta to the northern coast of British Columbia, 50% of Canadians support the project, while 17% oppose the project and 20% are neutral.
Support is strongest among:
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- Albertans (66%)
- Men (58%)
- Canadians aged 55+ (56%)
- Conservative voters (71%)
These findings highlight a clear trend: even as the political narrative around pipeline politics intensifies, public support remains solid in key demographic and regional segments.
Pipelines Seen as Key Drivers of Canada’s Economic Future
A significant share of the Canadian population continues to view pipelines as essential to national economic growth. In fact, 45% say new pipelines are important to Canada’s economic future.
This perception is particularly strong:
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- in Alberta (67%)
- among men (51%)
- among older Canadians (52%)
- among Conservative voters (67%)
Confidence in Responsible Pipeline Development
A majority of Canadians believe that new pipelines can be developed responsibly while respecting governance and environmental principles.
More than half believe pipelines can be built while:
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- respecting provincial jurisdiction (56%)
- protecting the environment (53%)
- ensuring meaningful consultation with local communities (51%)
- respecting Indigenous rights (49%)
Albertans and Conservative voters exhibit substantially higher confidence on every dimension.
Nuance is important here. Support for pipeline politics does not mean unconditional support.
Canadians expect responsible development, transparency, and respect for constitutional obligations.
Bill C-5 and the Pipeline Politics: Majority Support Faster Reviews
The survey reveals strong support for fast-tracking environmental reviews under Bill C-5 for projects deemed to be in the “national interest,” including the current pipeline project. 55% support accelerated environmental assessments, while 26% oppose.
Support is especially high:
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- in Alberta (68%)
- among men (66%)
- among Conservative voters (73%)
Indigenous Community Support: A Crucial Condition Before Construction
Across the country, Canadians are clear: 68% say it is important to obtain the support of Indigenous community before construction begins, with 33% considering this support to be “very important.”
Support for this principle is even higher:
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- in Quebec (76%)
- among older Canadians (73%)
- among Green Party voters (84%), NDP voters (81%) and Liberal voters (80%).
While the pipeline project enjoys solid public support driven by economic considerations, the political management of the issue remains fraught with risk for the Carney government.
Methodology
This online survey was conducted among 1,548 Canadian residents aged 18 or older, between December 5 and 7, 2025. Respondents were randomly recruited through LEO’s online panel. Results were weighted by age, gender, region, language, education, and household composition.
A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey. For comparison, a probability sample of this size would have a margin of error of ±2.49%, 19 times out of 20.
