An opinion poll published last week reveals that public attitudes are shifting on the Northern Gateway pipeline project.
While the controversial oil pipeline does not have the support of a majority of British Columbians, support has climbed from 35 to 42 per cent. Perhaps more importantly, those opposed are no longer a majority — they number 47 per cent of those polled, a drop of 14 per cent from a similar poll in February. The balance of people polled are undecided.
The sharp drop in opposition likely reflects the shift in opinion that took place in the midst of the provincial election, when NDP leader Adrian Dix changed course and came out against the Kinder Morgan pipeline twinning project, after months of saying he couldn’t take a position because an application hadn’t been filed.
At least one NDP MLA who lost his seat blamed that one move for the loss, and there is no doubt that many voters were much more wary of the NDP’s economic development plans after that remark was made.
The increase in support is also due to more intensive efforts by Enbridge to portray itself as listening to B.C. residents’ concerns.
Nonetheless, it will indeed be a challenge for the pipeline to be built, given that First Nations groups remain bitterly opposed and can hold the project up for years in court.
What seems far more likely, with this shift in public opinion, is that Kinder Morgan will be built, and will face significantly less opposition.
