A new poll shows Albertans support Premier Redford in her battle against sharing pipeline revenues with B.C.
Alberta voters seem to like Premier Alison Redford's stand against sharing royalty revenues from the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project with B.C.
A new poll conducted by Think-HQ shows 68 percent of people support her position on the issue.
The war of words between the two premiers erupted last month when B.C. Premier Christy Clark said her province wouldn't get enough economic benefit from the project in comparison to the environmental risk.
Premier Redford was quick to respond.
“We have in our provinces the right to resources, the income from resources,” said Redford.
The proposed pipeline would stretch nearly 1200 kilometers between northern Alberta and Kitimat, B.C.
The pipeline would carry oilsands bitumen to the coast for transport and refining in Asia.
The poll also shows the majority of Albertans asked feel Clark's demands are fair and reasonable.
"The issue boils down to two things: how much and who pays because as far as most Albertans are concerned, the prevailing sentiment is the Alberta government's name isn't on the application, Enbridge’s is, so if you're unsatisfied with the arrangement talk to the applicant , said Marc Henry of Think-HQ.
Davi Stewart is a political Scientist at the University of Calgary and says this leaves Enbridge in a tough position.
“It means Enbridge is going to be limited probably in the amount of success they could have in lobbying the provincial government to compromise on the royalty issue,” said Stewart.
Calls to Enbridge from CTV for comment were not returned.
The poll was conducted between July 30th and August 6 and is considered accurate to within 3 percent.
