Views of Canadians on Canada’s Energy Future

The research gauged the opinions among Canadians on Canada's energy future. Questions were asked on the role of oil and gas to the country's current and future economy, the expansion of oil and gas exports for security and climate, and support for growth in this sector as well as for renewable energy. Canadians were also asked about the future of Canada's electricity generation mix and their level of comfort with various electricity facilities in their communities. The survey also gauged opinions on government performance on energy decision-making and on developing a shared vision for Canada's energy future.

1. Importance of oil & gas to Canada’s current economy on upward trajectory, importance to its future economy holds steady: About four in five Canadians rate oil and gas as important to Canada’s current economy (score of 7-10 out of 10) (78%) which continues the upward trajectory since November 2020 (65% in 2020; 68% in 2021; 74% in January 2023). Importance of oil and gas to Canada’s future economy remains steady with about three in five Canadians who rate it as important (score of 7-10) (57% in January 2023 and August 2023).
2. Canada’s oil & gas sector seen as a possible contributor to combatting climate change and increasing energy security consistent with previous waves: Consistent with previous waves, a majority of Canadians agree or somewhat agree that Canada’s oil and gas sector can contribute to combatting global climate change (36% agree; 28% somewhat agree) and that Canada should expand oil and gas exports to help the world have more secure energy supplies (34% agree; 24% somewhat agree).
3. Canadians say hydroelectricity should make up greatest proportion of Canada’s electricity generation mix: Thinking of Canada’s future electricity system, Canadians assigned the greatest proportion of the electricity generation mix to hydroelectricity (27%), followed by nuclear (16%), solar (15%), wind (12%), and natural gas (12%). When asked the reason for their chosen electricity mix, they most often said it was to reduce the impact on the environment or to use clean energy (40%), followed by the reliability of energy production methods long-term (24%), and to diversify using multiple methods of electricity production (21%).
4. Canadians most comfortable having hydro and solar facilities in their community: When asked to rank the types of electricity generation facilities they are most comfortable having in their community, Canadians most often ranked hydroelectricity first (36%) followed by solar (22%), while coal was most often ranked last (61%). When asked the reason why they were most comfortable with their top ranked type of electricity generation, those who said hydroelectricity or solar most often said it was clean and better for the environment (33% hydro; 32% solar). The top reason given for why they were least comfortable with coal was the negative environmental impacts (42%).
5. Canadians who believe Canada does a poor job building public confidence in energy decision-making on the rise: After a steady decrease from 2018 (60% very poor/poor) to 2021 (47% very poor/poor), Canadians’ views on Canada’s performance building public confidence in energy decision-making worsens with now three in five Canadians who believe Canada does a very poor job or poor job (60%) at this (an increase of 13 percentage points from 47% in 2021). Residents from the Prairies (42%) and B.C. (36%) are much more likely to say Canada does a very poor job than those from Quebec (19%).
6. Proportion who think Canada does a poor job developing a vision for its energy future reaches highest recorded level: Similarly to the job done by Canada at building public confidence in energy decision-making, the proportion of Canadians who believe Canada does a very poor job or poor job (59%) at developing a shared long-term vision for Canada’s energy future surpasses 2018 levels (51% very poor/poor) after a steady decrease in 2019 (48% very poor/poor) and 2021 (44% very poor/poor). Men are more likely to say Canada does a very poor job at this (35%) than women (24%).

• Developing a vision for Canada's Energy Future - Nik Nanos, CTV News