2016 Public Opinion Poll: Canadians' Attitudes towards Marine Shipping

In this Report, You'll Learn About

Key findings of a new study conducted by the Angus Reid Institute, in partnership with Clear Seas, on public attitudes about the marine shipping industry
Results of the study focus on the importance of shipping, the perceptions of the safety of marine shipping, and the perceptions of shipping regulation and oversight in Canada

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Summary

The Angus Reid Institute conducted an online survey in March 2016, among a sample of 2,290 Canadian adults, asking them about their perceptions of the marine shipping industry. This report summarizes the results of this survey, intending to act as a benchmark of the attitudes of the Canadian public concerning marine shipping.

The findings from this survey show that Canadians are equally aware of the importance of marine shipping to our economy and that environmental concerns cannot be ignored, especially along our coastlines.

Key Takeaway

Based on the responses to this survey, the majority of Canadians (86%) described their overall view of the marine shipping industry as “positive”. Canadians are equally aware of the importance of marine shipping to our economy and that environmental concerns cannot be ignored, especially along our coastlines. Canadians expect improvement by all marine shipping stakeholders — from governments to industry to port authorities — to provide better knowledge and oversight of marine shipping activities, especially safety policies.

One of the key lessons learned from the survey is that Canadians expect improvement by all marine shipping stakeholders — from governments to industry to port authorities — to provide better knowledge and oversight of marine shipping activities, especially safety policies

Result Highlights | Statements & Quotations

Canadians believe marine shipping makes an important – even critical – contribution to the economy, facilitates international trade and benefits coastal communities (three-quarters described shipping as critically or very important in each case)

Three-quarters (73%) of Canadians rate the marine shipping industry and its activities as “generally safe” and another one-in-five (21%) say it is “very safe”

Two-in-five (40%) Canadians describe themselves as “very” or “somewhat worried” about the safety of transporting petroleum in Canadian waters

Narrow majorities of Canadians oppose expanded oil tanker traffic in the Bay of Fundy (57%) and along British Columbia’s south coast (55%), and support (53%) the federal government’s moratorium on crude oil shipments along the northern coast of B.C.

Published April 19, 2016

Last modified on June 23, 2023

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