New Polling Shows Federal Government’s Pipeline Plans Hurting Popularity 

The Government of Canada’s plans to subsidize a new oil pipeline and roll back environmental safeguards are hurting government support in key federal ridings

Ottawa | Traditional, unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinaabeg People – New polling released today by Environmental Defence demonstrates that PM Carney’s plans to subsidize a new oil pipeline, expand oil and gas production and roll back environmental safeguards are hurting government support in key federal ridings across Ontario. Environmental Defence commissioned Liaison Strategies to conduct polling in 12 federal ridings across Ontario to gauge support for the Prime Minister’s plans. The polling was conducted between Sept. 8- 12, 2026.

“As government MPs gather in Ottawa this week for their retreat, ahead of next week’s return to Parliament, they have now been put on notice that PM Carney’s pipeline plans are unpopular with many of the people who voted for this government,” says Julia Levin, Associate Director, Environmental Defence Canada.

The government’s pipeline push has included gutting environmental safeguards, the promise of taxpayer dollars to cover the majority of this economically risky project and efforts to fast-tack the project approval and skirt species protections. This new polling finds those choices are unpopular with Liberal voters. In every riding polled, 50–59 per cent of respondents are less likely to support an MP who backs taxpayer funding for another oil pipeline.

Similarly, 46-58 per cent of respondents would be less likely to support a Liberal MP if the government proceeds with plans to approve major projects like pipelines without assessing their environmental impacts.

“In the coming weeks, PM Carney will be making a decision about whether to designate the west coast oil pipeline as being in the national interest. We are calling on MPs to oppose that decision,” adds Levin. “Canadians don’t want to pay for another pipeline. They don’t want the government to greenlight a pipeline, or other megaprojects, before the impacts on nature and wildlife are understood. The government was elected to represent voters, and those same voters are saying now that they do not support key elements of the government’s agenda.”

The Government of Canada is currently developing new legislation to move forward with its unpopular proposal to give Cabinet sweeping powers to approve major projects. Members of Parliament should be clear on how their constituents view these changes.

“Canadians value nature and wildlife. It’s one of the things that unites us across the country. Yet PM Carney is trading away our most loved landscapes and most beloved wildlife for an oil pipeline and other megaprojects,” says Levin. “A trade war is not justification to sacrifice what we hold dear about Canada. Once nature is gone, we don’t get it back.”

Key Findings

  • Pipeline funding could hurt government support:The government’s plan to subsidize a new oil pipeline is unpopular with respondents. In every riding, at least 50 per cent of respondents (and 50-59 per cent of Liberal voters specifically) are less likely to support an MP who backs taxpayer funding for another oil pipeline.
  • A majority opposes weakening environmental protections to fast-track pipelines and megaprojects: Most respondents (46-58 per cent across all ridings) would be less likely to vote for a government MP if the government proceeds with plans to approve major projects without assessing their environmental impacts. Only 7-16 per cent said they would be more likely to vote for a government MP because of these plans.
  • PM Carney’s climate and environmental rollbacks are unpopular: PM Carney has rolled back climate and environmental policies, including regulations on large industrial polluters, programs intended to lower household energy bills and funding for severe-weather services. All of this means that Canadians will continue to experience worsening climate disasters, such as wildfires, heat waves and flooding. As a result of these changes, 42-58 per cent of respondents are less likely to vote for a Liberal candidate in the next election.
  • Ontarians oppose fossil fuel subsidies, including for liquefied natural gas (LNG): A large majority of respondents (58-72 per cent across all ridings) oppose fossil fuel subsidies. Among Liberal voters, the numbers are higher: 63-80 per cent.  Fewer than 1 in 5 respondents support these subsidies. 57 to 69 per cent oppose public financing for proposed LNG projects in British Columbia.
  • Opposition outweighs support for expanding oil and gas production: In nearly every riding, more respondents oppose expanding oil and gas production, with only around one third supporting new pipelines that expand oil and gas production (23-39 per cent across all ridings). Liberal voters are more likely to oppose oil and gas expansion (43 to 57 per cent). Only around 1 in 5 respondents want the government to prioritize fossil fuels over clean energy (14 to 26 per cent).
  • A majority of Ontarians remain concerned about climate change: 58-73 per cent of respondents across all ridings say they are concerned about the climate crisis.

Additional Information

  • The ridings polled include: Burlington North–Milton West; Ottawa West–Nepean; Hamilton Centre; Spadina–Harbourfront; Peterborough; Toronto–St. Paul’s; Kingston and the Islands; Scarborough–Woburn; Beaches–East York; Etobicoke–Lakeshore; Taiaiako’n—Parkdale—High Park and Carleton.
  • Liaison surveyed a combined sample of 6,112 respondents across 12 federal ridings (505–515 per riding) using Interactive Voice Recording (IVR) technology.
  • This complements polling conducted by the Climate Action Network Canada earlier this year, which surveyed five ridings in B.C. and six ridings in Quebec with a similar set of questions.
  • In May Pembina Institute conducted a poll of Albertans, which found that a majority do not want taxpayer money to be used for a new pipeline.

ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.

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For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Midhat Moini, Environmental Defence, media@environmentaldefence.ca