A majority of Quebecers now support reviving the Energy East pipeline, a major shift in public opinion that Quebec Premier François Legault has acknowledged could alter his government’s stance on the long-abandoned project.
A new Angus Reid Institute poll found that 47 per cent of Quebecers now back Energy East, up from 33 per cent in 2019.
Support for Energy East has grown in every province between 2019 and 2025 except Alberta, which saw a 12-point decline, and Saskatchewan, which saw support stagnate.
Overall, 65 per cent of Canadians now support the Energy East pipeline, compared to 58 per cent in 2019.
Speaking at an unrelated press conference on Feb. 3, Legault said he did not think there was public support for any such pipeline in Quebec. However, he said that if that changed, he, too, would be open to changing his mind and supporting such a project.
“There is no social acceptability for this kind of project right now in Quebec,” said Legault. “What Mr. Trump is doing may change the situation in the future. So, if there is a social acceptability, we will be open to these kinds of projects. But right now, there is no social acceptability.”
Another recent poll from the Angus Reid Institute showcased that the majority of Quebecers support a coast-to-coast pipeline.
Most Canadians, 54 per cent, also support reviving the Northern Gateway pipeline project.
Canadians who intend to vote Conservative are most likely to support a pipeline project, with 90 per cent supporting Energy East and 83 per cent supporting Northern Gateway. NDP supporters are the least likely to support a pipeline project.
Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet said that Quebec was “fiercely opposed” to energy pipelines running through the province despite polls suggesting otherwise.
Former advisor to Quebec’s Finance Minister, Jean Philippe Fournier, thanked Trump for the fact that three-quarters of Quebecers now support pipelines.
“Anyone that tells you there’s no social acceptability in Quebec is either an idiot, misinformed, or straight-up lying,” he said.
Canadians’ view on whether the Liberals made the right decision in purchasing and completing the Trans Mountain pipeline is evenly divided three ways among right decision, wrong decision, and unsure.
Two-thirds of Canadians (64 per cent) said government red tape makes projects like Trans Mountain more expensive.
A previous report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer highlighted that Canadians stand to eventually lose billions of dollars from the Trans Mountain pipeline sale.
The pipeline is looking to increase its daily oil production by up to 300,000 additional barrels to combat President Donald Trump’s proposed 10-per-cent tariffs on all oil imports.
Minister of Industry François-Philippe Champagne recently told CTV that things have changed, and Canada may need a pipeline connecting its eastern and western provinces.
Former Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, Andrew Scheer, said not to believe the Liberals.
“Trudeau-Carney Liberal Ministers are trying to fool you: pretending they want east-west pipelines,” said Scheer. “Remember: it was the Liberal government that killed Energy East. And Carney applauded!”
Conservative MP Michael Cooper issued a similar warning.
“The Trudeau-Carney Liberals killed the Energy East pipeline, undermining our economy and energy security. Now, Liberal ministers suddenly claim they want east-west pipelines. This is an admission of failure,” said Cooper. “They’re desperately trying to run from their disastrous record.”
Conservative MP Rick Perkins said the Liberals killed Energy East, Northern Gateway, and passed the anti-pipeline Bill C-69, which was eventually deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Canada.
The leader of Quebec’s Conservative Party, Eric Duhaime, said that while Legault says there is no social acceptability for pipelines, the polls are telling a different story. Duhaime said his party supports the development of pipelines and the use of natural gas to become energy independent.
True North reached out to Legault for comment but received no reply.
