OTTAWA – A recent Leger poll reveals that half of Canadians support the construction of a new bitumen pipeline connecting Alberta to British Columbia (B.C.), while less than 20% are strongly opposed to the project. This poll was conducted online from December 5 to December 7, 2025, and surveyed 1,548 Canadians. Notably, the poll indicates robust support for the pipeline in Alberta and among demographics including men, older Canadians, and Conservative Party voters.
Prime Minister Mark Carney recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Alberta government to pursue the approval of this pipeline project, which aims to enhance Canada’s access to energy markets beyond North America. Among the supporters, 24% indicated they "strongly support" the initiative, while 26% stated they "somewhat support" it. Additionally, 20% of respondents expressed neutrality towards the project, 17% opposed it, and 13% were undecided.
The regional breakdown of support for the pipeline shows that approximately two-thirds of respondents from Alberta are in favor of the project, with support also high in Ontario and B.C. at 50%. In contrast, support is lowest in Quebec, standing at 37%. Gender disparities are also evident, as 58% of male respondents support the project compared to 42% of female respondents. Furthermore, age appears to influence opinions, with 56% of those aged 55 and older supporting the project, in comparison to 49% of respondents aged 35 to 54 and just 41% of younger individuals aged 18 to 34.
The poll also highlights stark differences in support based on political affiliations: 71% of Conservative voters are in favor of the pipeline, while only 54% of Liberal voters and a mere 23% of NDP voters support it. When asked about the significance of new pipelines to Canada’s economic future, 45% of participants considered them "extremely" or "very" important, while another 34% labeled them as "moderately" or "slightly" important. Only 7% of respondents deemed pipelines "not at all important."
Interestingly, the survey indicates that many Canadians believe it is possible to build new pipelines while respecting Indigenous rights (49%), local community rights (51%), and environmental protections (53%). A majority, 56%, expressed confidence that new pipelines can be constructed while respecting provincial governments through consultation and participation in decision-making processes.
Andrew Enns, Leger’s executive vice-president for Central Canada, expressed concern that Canadians might feel uncertain about how the pipeline project could progress in light of the various interested parties. He noted, "When I look at the data, I see a lot of potential collisions here of expectations and how this will all unfold if and when it gets to that." Enns further mentioned that there are signs of public anxiety regarding the government's capabilities to advance significant infrastructure projects.
Respondents placed importance on gaining support from Indigenous communities in B.C. before beginning construction, with 68% deeming it important. In terms of expedited project approvals, 55% would back a pipeline being fast-tracked if designated a "national interest" by the federal government, while 26% would oppose such measures. Support for fast-tracking is higher among Conservative voters at 73%, compared to 61% of Liberal supporters.
Enns concluded that these findings suggest Canadians are still “quite seized” by the urgent need to bolster the economy, seeing pipelines as an integral component of that strategy. The polling firm emphasizes the limitations of online surveys, as they do not randomize sample populations, and thus cannot assign a margin of error to the results.
