The $30 billion LNG Canada project was signed into reality earlier this month, and a new Insights West poll shows it has the support of more British Columbians than it would have a couple years ago.
Sixty two per cent of B.C. residents support the project, according to the survey, including 33 per cent who say they “strongly” support it. This is up 19 percentage points since the poll was conducted in March 2016.
“There seems to have been a decisive shift in the minds of British Columbians when it comes to support for large-scale energy-related investment projects in the province,” said Insights West president Steve Mossop. “Our latest poll showing 62 per cent support for the Kitimat project is one of the highest we’ve seen in several years of comparative tracking on a number of other initiatives.
“It seems the benefits are finally starting to outweigh the concerns British Columbians have on these types of projects.”
According to the poll results, 32 per cent of British Columbians think the project will bring significant benefits to all residents, compared 15 per cent in March 2016.
Almost all respondents – 90 per cent – said they believe the project will create new jobs. As well, 87 per cent said it will generate new capital investment, 86 per cent said they believe it will support economic growth and 78 per cent said they believe it will generate increased tax revenue that will go toward health care, education and infrastructure.
Many of those who took the survey had concerns about the project, however. Sixty five per cent said they think it will make the province more dependent on fossil fuels, 64 per cent said there will be a risk of an LNG spill and 62 per cent said it will generate more CO2 emissions.
— Emma Crawford Hampel, Business in Vancouver
