Almost 60 per cent of Vancouverites polled about the federal government’s decision to purchase Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline and related infrastructure for $4.5 billion say they are opposed to the deal.

A Research Co. poll to be released Tuesday found that 42 per cent strongly disagreed and 17 per cent somewhat disagreed with the sale of Kinder Morgan’s existing pipeline system, which the federal government announced May 29.

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Of the 400 respondents polled between June 9 and 11, a total of 10 per cent strongly agreed with the government’s decision and 18 per cent somewhat agreed. Thirteen per cent said they were not sure, leaving room for either side to boost public opinion on the deal.

Mario Canseco, president of Research Co., said the results show the “animosity” of Vancouverites over the deal but don’t conclusively determine whether those same people oppose the expansion of the existing pipeline.

Up until the purchase, Canseco noted, there appeared to be a shift in support for the expansion project, with those who were moderately opposed coming on side with the pro-pipeline positions of the governments of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.

“Most of that middle-of-the-road opinion was moving more to a position of support, but with the situation we have now with the feds getting involved and essentially buying this pipeline, I think we’re seeing a lot of people who are starting to wonder whether this is the right course of action,” he said.

Kennedy Stewart, independent mayoral candidate. Photo Dan Toulgoet

The release of Research Co.’s findings comes five days after Canseco’s firm released results showing independent mayoral candidate Kennedy Stewart, who was arrested March 23 and charged for blocking workers access to Kinder Morgan property, as the front-runner among decided voters in this year’s mayoral race in Vancouver.

Vancouverites’ opposition to the government’s purchase of the pipeline would appear to bode well for the campaign of the retiring Burnaby-South NDP MP, who pleaded guilty to criminal contempt of court and paid a $500 fine for his actions related to the arrest. This week, Stewart finished his last session in Parliament by presenting another petition opposing the pipeline.

Reached in Ottawa Tuesday, Stewart said he thought it was fair to link both poll questions—one on support for a mayoral candidate, the other on support for the federal government’s purchase of the pipeline—to conclude that a majority of respondents were more likely to vote for him in the Oct.20 municipal election.

“We seem to be the leaders on this issue,” said Stewart, noting Ken Sim, the Non Partisan Association’s mayoral candidate, has not said whether he supports the pipeline project. “Candidates are going to have to make their positions clear. I know where I am on this one, and I think people know that I will continue to fight this."

Stewart was the first choice for 26 per cent of respondents. Sim was runner-up at 23 per cent and Ian Campbell of Vision Vancouver at 18 per cent. Campbell, a Squamish hereditary chief, and his nation have been fierce opponents of the pipeline project and launched legal action to stop it.

NPA Coun. Hector Bremner, who is expected to run for mayor with a new party, finished with 10 per cent and independent candidate Shauna Sylvester with nine per cent. A previous poll from Research Co. put Green Party Coun. Adriane Carr as the front-runner in the race but she has decided not to run for mayor.

Although Stewart said he recognized the top issue for him and Vancouver voters is housing affordability, he believes there will be residents who strongly oppose the pipeline project and seek out a candidate who has demonstrated that opposition.

“This may actually be their ballot question—they may walk in and say, ‘I don’t really care about the other factors, I don’t care if they’re left or right, but I’m so opposed to this pipeline that we need somebody in city hall that’s going to fight it,’” he said.

NPA mayoral candidate Ken Sim. Photo Dan Toulgoet

In an interview prior to winning the NPA’s leadership race, Sim told the Courier he would be concerned “with anything that could adversely affect our environment.” But, he added in the May 31 interview, the city’s doesn’t have control over whether the pipeline will be built.

“If the pipeline actually is ever built, as mayor of Vancouver I would make sure that all our environmental standards were set as high as possible, and I would do everything in my power and the city’s power to make sure those standards are met and enforced,” Sim said.

The poll’s question about support for the purchase of the pipeline also asked respondents who they voted for in the 2014 municipal election. Of those who somewhat or strongly disagreed with the purchase, 64 per cent voted for Mayor Gregor Robertson, who is retiring this fall. A total of 36 per cent said they voted for then-NPA mayoral candidate, Kirk LaPointe, who placed second to Robertson.

Of the same group opposed to the purchase, 77 per cent voted for the NDP in the last provincial election. Another 71 per cent voted Green and 31 per cent cast a ballot for the B.C. Liberals.

Canseco said he will continue to poll residents right up until election day, noting it’s still several months before voters going to the polls. He cited the large number of undecided voters as a factor in making a prediction.

“It’s astonishing,” he said, noting his recent poll showed 47 per cent of respondents have yet to decide on a mayoral candidate.

mhowell@vancourier.com

@Howellings