Newfoundlanders and Labradorians express widespread support for the Bay du Nord project

A survey of Newfoundland and Labrador residents conducted by Narrative Research on behalf of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) finds that awareness of the Bay du Nord project is relatively high, with three in four (73%) either very or somewhat aware, and one-quarter (27%) not very or not at all aware.

Coupled with high levels of awareness, eight in ten (79%) of those aware of the Bay du Nord project express some level of support for it. Indeed, opposition to the project is limited with just 7% opposing the project. A small proportion (13%) don’t know enough to express support or opposition. Out of the total population, seven in ten (71%) support it, 7% oppose it, and 23% either don’t know enough to say or are not at all aware.               

“Today’s Narrative Research release demonstrates Newfoundlanders and Labradorians’ overwhelming support for the Bay du Nord project, as well as shows their significant concern with ongoing delays in the environmental assessment approval process,” said Paul Barnes, director, Atlantic Canada & Arctic for CAPP.

The Impact Assessment Agency of Canada concluded in August 2021 that this project is unlikely to have adverse environmental impacts with appropriate mitigations in place, Barnes noted.

“It is time for the Government of Canada to approve the environmental assessment for the Bay du Nord project, which will produce some of the lowest emission oil in Canada,” Barnes said. “Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have also clearly stated their support for increasing the role Newfoundland and Labrador can play in offsetting Europe’s reliance on Russian oil and natural gas in the future.” Newfoundland and Labrador already exports oil to many European countries and can continue to play an important role in global energy security while continuing to manage and reduce emissions, he said.

Two-thirds (68%) express concern with the delays of the Bay du Nord Offshore Oil project, when presented with the information that in December 2021 the federal government delayed the environmental assessment approval of the Bay du Nord offshore oil project for 90 days and then delayed it again in March for another 40 days. Two in ten (19%) are not very or not at all concerned, while 13 percent indicate they do not know enough to say.       

Within a global context, 85% of those surveyed agree that provinces such as Newfoundland and Labrador can help Europe by providing reliable and ethically produced oil from offshore projects, while the same proportion (85%) agree that the situation in Ukraine shows why it’s important for Canada, and especially provinces like Newfoundland and Labrador that are close to Europe, to be a reliable and ethical supplier of oil and natural gas to Europe.         

These results are results of a survey conducted by Narrative Research, on behalf of CAPP. This survey was conducted online from March 16-21, 2022, with 411 Newfoundland and Labrador residents 18 or older that are members of an online general population panel. Quotas and weights based on the 2016 Census, by gender, age, and region, were used to reflect these population characteristics in the province.

As a non-probability sample (i.e., a panel sample where residents have joined a panel to share their opinions), and in accordance with CRIC Public Opinion Research Standards, a margin of error is not applied.