Poll Finds 81% of Canadians Back New Pipelines
An Ipsos survey conducted October 16 to 19 found broad national support for new pipelines and export terminals.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Oil and Gas
Live Poll
Should Canada build new pipelines to export energy to customers other than the United States?
An online Ipsos poll conducted October 16 to 19 on behalf of the Montreal Economic Institute found that 81 per cent of Canadians strongly or somewhat support new pipelines and export terminals. Ten per cent said they oppose such projects.
Why it matters
Respondents cited reducing Canada's reliance on American customers as a reason for their support. The findings show support extending across demographic groups and regions of the country.
The Ipsos online poll found 81 per cent of respondents supporting new pipelines and export terminals, compared with 10 per cent opposed. The sample size and margin of error were not specified in the extraction.
The players
Ipsos
Ipsos is a global market research and public opinion polling firm headquartered in Paris, with a significant presence in Canada.
Montreal Economic Institute
The Montreal Economic Institute is a Montreal-based think tank that advocates for free-market economic policies.
The details
The poll was conducted online from October 16 to 19 on behalf of the Montreal Economic Institute think tank. Support for new pipeline infrastructure extended across demographic groups and regions of the country.
Timeline
October 16 to 19: Ipsos conducts the online poll.
Tuesday, November 10, 2026: Ipsos releases the poll results.
Market Landscape
The poll's support for new pipelines and export terminals reflects the same export-capacity debate that has played out around the Trans Mountain expansion. Public backing of this scale signals that the question of how Canada moves its oil to market has broad national resonance.
Household energy prices and job opportunities in the oil and gas sector are shaped by whether new export infrastructure is built. This poll signals public willingness for such projects, though approval still depends on government and regulatory decisions.
The takeaway
Broad public support for pipelines does not by itself determine whether projects proceed, but it indicates the level of national backing these decisions carry. Readers following energy policy should watch how governments respond to this sentiment.
Further reading
For more on the industry behind these projects, see the Oil and Gas section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by National Post.
Live Poll
Should Canada build new pipelines to export energy to customers other than the United States?
