Canadians Want Pipelines, But Not the Bill

Canada's proposed pipeline to the West Coast has garnered support from 63% of Canadians, according to recent polling. The majority cited economic reasons as their motivation for backing the project, including the need to diversify oil markets and create jobs.

However, a separate poll found that a significant portion of Albertans - 61% - do not want to spend taxpayer money on a new pipeline. This raises questions about who will foot the bill for the estimated $35-43 billion project.

The Alberta government has proposed a partnership with Trans Mountain and Pembina Pipeline, which would hold a majority interest in the project. The federal government has also taken steps to designate the pipeline as a national interest, potentially allowing it to bypass environmental assessments and other regulatory hurdles.