Poll: ROBBINS New Trend - The Battle for B.C. The People of British Columbia vs Big Oil

Question #1

Do you support the transport of Alberta Tar Sands Oil by pipeline through the province of British Columbia and by tanker along our provincial coastline? (Portrayed as 100% “Decided”)

Yes		38 %
No		62.5 %
Undecided		15 %

Question #2

In your opinion should the country of China be exempt from Global environmental standards which other countries like Canada, the United States and Europe are expected to adhere to? (Portrayed as 100% “Decided”)

Yes		16 %
No		84 %
Undecided		11 %

Question #3

Enbridge is a company proposing to build a pipeline across northern BC to carry Tar Sands oil to later be carried by tanker along the British Columbia coastline. An Enbridge pipeline carrying Tar Sands oil between the Province of Ontario and Michigan has recently created an environmental disaster at Kalamazoo, Michigan. This disaster has caused $40 million in clean up costs paid to date by the U.S. tax payer. Which of the following responses best describes your opinion to this (following) statement? Enbridge be made to put up security of $100 million as surety against an environmental disaster should they be approved to build a pipeline in British Columbia.

Yes		34 %
No		4 %
I don’t want the pipeline		58 %
Undecided		4 %

Question #4

Based on the questions in this poll only – which of the following leaders and parties are you most confident will deal with this issue involving jobs, the economy, and environmental sustainability?

Adrian Dix and BC NDP		35 %
John Cummins and BC Conservatives		23 %
Christy Clark and BC Liberals		21.5 %
Jane Sterk and BC Greens		19.5 %
Other Party		00 %
Undecided		12 %

Commentary

Based on outcomes from questions 1 and 3 we conclude that (62.5%) of “Decided” British Columbians ‘of voting age’ residing (specifically) in the lower mainland of the province do NOT want the oil pipeline Enbridge is proposing across the north of the Province of British Columbia. This number compares to a ROBBINS poll conducted in October 2010 where question 1 was (identically) asked and where (65%) of “Decided” British Columbians throughout the province opposed the pipeline to carry Alberta Tar Sands across the north of the provincial land mass for shipment down the coastline of the province to destination such as China according to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The serious concerns of respondents are more emphatically indicated by the desire of those (“Yes”) (mostly) supporting the pipeline to see Enbridge put up $100 million in surety prior to constructing the pipeline. In addition, a swath of Undecided from question 1 move against the pipeline in question 3 once they are made aware of Enbridge’s other environmental problems and specifically the environmental disaster in Marshall, Michigan -- AND there is anecdote that even those who answered “No” may not entirely support the pipeline despite other response choices which might have more clearly depicted this opinion.

Clear majority Opposition to the Enbridge pipeline is supported by question 2, at least indirectly, as British Columbians residing in the lower mainland (and media center of the province) are clearly against China being “ exempt from Global environmental standards which other countries like Canada, the United States and Europe are expected to adhere to”.

It is our thesis based on these outcomes that it is possible that potentially 3 out of 4 British Columbians provided with full and plain disclosure will reject the Enbridge pipeline proposal and that it is very unlikely that even one out of two would ever support it in any circumstance.

54.8% of ‘Decided’ respondents in this ROBBINS poll are of the opinion that either Adrian Dix and BC New Democrats or Jane Sterk and BC Greens make them the most confident in dealing with “the (sic) issue involving jobs, the economy, and environmental sustainability.” NO respondents who support Jane Sterk and BC Greens in question 4 support the pipeline. (18%) of respondents who select Adrian Dix and BC NDP support the pipeline based on responses from both questions 1 and 3. (64%) of respondents “most confident” in John Cummins and BC Conservatives, and (61%) “most confident” in Christy Clark and BC Liberals support the pipeline, while just less than (30%) of Undecided from question 4 supports the pipeline.

In two ROBBINS polls, October 2010 and in this January 2012 poll, British Columbians throughout the province and in the lower mainland have clearly declared they do not support the Enbridge pipeline in conjunction with the shipment of the oil transported by that pipeline by “Tanker” down the coast of British Columbia or alternatively in conjunction with the knowledge that Enbridge has a history of pipeline problems shipping Tar Sands oil which have caused huge environmental problems.

Method-A random telephone sample of 612 British Columbians residing in the Lower Mainland of the Province. This Poll was conducted January 5-7, 2012. Average age of respondent (provided by 482) is 48 years. Margin of error is 3.96% plus or minus, 19 times out of 20 @ 95% confidence.