B.C. residents opposed to Enbridge’s proposal to transport crude oil through inside coastal waters
2012-03-27
Vancouver, B.C. (Mar 27, 2012) – Most British Columbians are opposed to the Enbridge proposal to transport crude oil through B.C.’s inside coastal waters.
Opposition to Enbridge supertanker proposal
A majority (78%) of B.C. residents is aware of the Enbridge proposal to transport crude oil from Alberta through B.C.’s inside coastal waters to refineries in Asia. According to a recent poll by Justason Market Intelligence, two-thirds (66%) of B.C. residents oppose this plan, including one-half (50%) who strongly oppose. One in five (22%) supports this proposal; 11% strongly support.
Protection of the Great Bear Rainforest
A strong majority of B.C. residents agrees that protecting the Great Bear Rainforest is like protecting the Amazon or the Great Barrier Reef. In total, 82% agree. Six in ten (60%) B.C. residents strongly agree .
Research Notes
These are the findings of a Justason Market Intelligence telephone-online hybrid poll of 611 adult British Columbians. The research relied on a random telephone sample and Justason’s online panel. Data in this non-probability sample were weighted to match the regional distributions and demographic characteristics (age and sex) of British Columbia according to the most recent census.
- Dates of research: Feb 24 to Mar 7, 2012
- Sample: 611 B.C. adults 18 years and older
- Methodology: Telephone-online hybrid
- Margin of error: An unweighted probability sample of 611 reports a margin of error of ±4.0 percentage points, 95% of the time
- Research Sponsors: Dogwood Initiative, Forest Ethics, Living Oceans Society and West Coast Environmental Law
The questions:
1. One of the world’s largest oil transport companies, Enbridge, has asked Ottawa to approve a plan to allow crude oil to be transported from Alberta’s oil sands across British Columbia, where it would be loaded onto oil supertankers en route to refineries in Asia. This would bring crude oil supertankers to the coastal inlets of the Great Bear Rainforest for the first time. Have you heard of this plan?
2. Up until now, crude oil supertankers have not entered B.C.’s inside coastal passage because of concerns about oil spills. Ottawa is now considering allowing crude oil supertankers to transport crude oil through these waters. Do you support or oppose allowing crude oil supertankers through B.C.’s inside coastal waters?
3. The Great Bear Rainforest is located along B.C.’s north-central coast. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: Protecting the Great Bear Rainforest in Northern B.C. is like protecting the Amazon or the Great Barrier Reef?
For more information contact:
Barb Justason, Principal Justason Market Intelligence
Direct: +1 604 783 4165 | +1 646 875 4949
Email: barb@JustasonMI.com
web: JustasonMI.com twitter: barbjustason Emma Gilchrist, Communications Director
Dogwood Initiative
Direct: +1 250 370 9930 ext 31 Mobile: +1 250 661-7277
Email: emma@dogwoodinitiative.org
web: DogwoodInitiative.org Nikki Skuce, Senior Energy Campaigner Forest Ethics Direct: +1 250 877 7762 Mobile: +1 778 210 0117 Email: nikki@forestethics.org Web: ForestEthics.org
