For years, Canada’s energy debate has been framed as a choice between economic growth and environmental responsibility. A new survey of Ontarians suggests that many Canadians are no longer buying into that false binary. Instead, they are asking a far more practical question: why isn’t Canada fully using its energy strengths to support jobs, public services, and long-term prosperity?
According to a recent Nanos Research poll conducted for Canada Action, more than four in five Ontarians believe oil and gas revenues are essential for creating Canadian jobs and strengthening the economy. Even more striking, 80 percent want Ottawa to develop a strategy that positions Canada as a preferred oil supplier to other countries. These numbers tell a story that political leaders, particularly at the federal level, can no longer afford to ignore.
Ontarians clearly see oil and gas not as outdated industries, but as pillars of economic stability. Nearly 79 percent of respondents said energy revenues help keep energy costs manageable at home, while 74 percent linked them to lower taxes. At a time when Canadians are grappling with affordability issues from housing to groceries this connection between energy revenues and everyday costs feels especially relevant.
The survey also challenges the notion that Canadians oppose energy development on environmental grounds. A strong majority 71 percent support building new energy infrastructure without compromising environmental protections or safety standards. This suggests that the public appetite is not for reckless development, but for balanced, responsible progress. Canadians appear to believe that strong environmental oversight and energy expansion can, and should, coexist.
There is also a broader societal angle that cannot be overlooked. Sixty-three percent of respondents said oil and gas revenues are important for funding essential social programs such as health care and education. In other words, this isn’t just about pipelines and exports; it’s about how Canada pays for the services citizens rely on every day.
Yet despite this public support, frustration with government processes is evident. Nearly half of those surveyed believe the approval process for energy infrastructure projects is simply too slow. This frustration helps explain why recent political developments such as the memorandum of understanding signed between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to potentially enable a new West Coast pipeline are being closely watched.
The proposed framework, which includes faster reviews through the newly created Major Projects Office and is tied to large-scale carbon capture initiatives like the Pathways Alliance project, represents a step toward compromise. It attempts to marry economic development with emissions reduction. Still, critics argue it may not go far enough. Conservatives, for instance, say that selectively fast-tracking projects misses the point, and that broader regulatory barriers like the Impact Assessment Act should be scrapped entirely.
What is clear is that public sentiment is shifting or perhaps, finally being acknowledged. As Canada Action spokesperson Cody Battershill noted, this Ontario survey aligns with numerous polls conducted across the country in recent months. The message has been consistent: Canadians recognize the central role oil and gas continue to play in the national economy and want governments to support the sector rather than stall it.
Canada has already paid a price for indecision, with multiple pipeline projects cancelled over the years. Those cancellations didn’t just halt infrastructure they limited market access, weakened investor confidence, and constrained long-term economic growth. Ontarians, it seems, are urging leaders not to repeat those mistakes.
The debate should no longer be about whether Canada develops its energy resources, but how quickly and intelligently it does so. The public is ready to move forward. The question now is whether Ottawa is willing to listen.
