Canadians Support Climate Tax On Overseas Goods: POLL

Published 10/02/2024 · Updated 10/02/2024

This is a release from the non-profit polling organization the Angus Reid Institute:

Canada’s path to net zero has many winding turns ahead. A combination of alternate fuels, new infrastructure and new technology will be required to get there. This will require investments by both governments and businesses, and perhaps an additional cost to the consumer.

New data from the non-profit Angus Reid Institute, in partnership with Clear Seas, finds a willingness among Canadians to contribute when it comes to paying extra on items shipped from overseas if it means reduced carbon emissions. Two-thirds (64%) of Canadians say they would pay something extra to help decrease emissions, including one-in-five (18%) who would pay more than two per cent extra.

This comes as there is much discussion over how to decarbonize the shipping industry as the world moves towards a low-carbon future. Hydrogen is viewed as a potential future fuel source, and Canada is in the process of planning an expansion of its hydrogen production. Two-thirds (67%) of Canadians say they would prefer that Canada use hydrogen domestically to decarbonize its own industries, including marine shipping, rather than export it abroad. One-in-six (17%) say Canada shouldn’t invest in hydrogen at all.

Overall, Canadians are more likely to say marine shipping’s economic contributions outweigh its environmental risks (30%) than the other way around (18%). This, while offering high marks for the general safety of the industry (92% say it is “very” or “generally” safe) and expressing more positivity than negativity towards shipping generally (81% have a positive image, 19% negative).

More Key Findings:

– At least seven-in-ten Canadians view marine shipping as “critically” or “very” important to the Canadian economy (73%), coastal communities (74%), Canada’s access to goods from other countries (79%) and the ability for Canada to export goods internationally (77%).

– Canadians are more likely to have noticed improvements in supply chain issues (34%) than an increase in problems (18%) in recent months. However, more than one-third (37%) say the supply chain has stayed the same and half (49%) say they have experienced a supply chain issue in their personal or work life.

– A majority (57%) believe shipping in Canada is growing in importance over the past 20 years, fewer than those who said so in 2022 (62%), but still more who believed that than in 2016 (43%).
Link to the poll here: www.angusreid.org/