If 50% plus one and a bit constitutes a majority, Canadians are behind the federal government’s proposal to put a national price on carbon, a new poll by Mainstreet/Postmedia finds. Very much not onside, however, are Saskatchewan and Alberta.
“The poll, conducted October 5 and 6, found 51% of Canadians approve of the plan,” the Calgary Herald reports, “but the number of opponents outweighed supporters across the Prairies and in Newfoundland.”
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Saskatchewan, whose premier Brad Wall has been heavily funded by Alberta’s oil sector and has strenuously resisted the national plan, showed the lowest support for carbon pricing: only 27% of respondents were for it, with 45% opposed. The opposed camp was even stronger in Alberta, where a majority of 54% of respondents opposed the plan. But slightly more than in Saskatchewan-29%—were in favour.
And “while Albertans said they don’t back the carbon tax plan, a large majority— 76%—of respondents said they’d be more likely to support Alberta’s Climate Leadership Plan [which includes a carbon price] if the federal government approves pipeline projects,” the Herald reports.
