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The research  gauged the opinions among Canadians on climate ambition, views on interprovincial pipelines and the alignment of climate policies and current priorities. This study also delved into views on energy affordability and Canadians’ intentions to electrify more of their energy needs.

1. Views on timing to address climate change: Over one in three Canadians (37%) believe it is the best time (score of 7-10 out of 10) for Canada to be ambitious in addressing climate change even if there are costs to the economy. This is the lowest score since tracking began in June 2020. One in five Canadians (20%) rate this as absolutely the worst time to be ambitious (score of 0 out of 10). When asked the reason for their views, those who think it is the best time (score 7-10 out of 10) most often said because we need to act now/climate change can’t wait (67%, down from 82% in November 2024) and that diversifying into alternative energy sources could help the economy and provinces (14%, up from two per cent in November 2024); while those who believe it is the worst time (score 0-3 out of 10) most often said so because Canada's impact on climate change is minimal (26%). Right-leaning Canadians are less likely (mean score of 2.2) compared to left-leaning Canadians (mean score of 7.3) to think it’s the best time for Canada to be ambitious in addressing climate change.

2. Job done by Canada having policies on climate change that align with Canadian views: More than three in ten Canadians think Canada currently does a very poor/poor job (32%) at having environmental policies on climate change that align with the views of Canadians, a decrease compared to the previous wave (42% in April 2024). When asked the reason for their views, those who believe Canada currently does a poor/very poor job most often said because the carbon tax is wrong/has no impact/only adds additional costs to the average Canadian (14%) and that we are not doing enough/all talk no action/targets are not being met (13%). Those who believe Canada does a good/very good job (15%) most often said because most Canadians agree with current policies/agree that something needs to be done to address climate change (17%).

3. Level of concern for energy prices over the next six months: Concern over energy prices in the next six months (45% score of 7-10 out of 10) has decreased since the most recent wave in November 2024 (53%). Of note, one in five Canadians (20%) rate their level of concern a 10 out of 10. When asked the reason for their views, those who say they are concerned most often said because of high cost/prices are increasing (18%); while those who say they are not concerned most often said I can afford it/not expensive/not concerned (45%). Right-leaning Canadians are more likely (mean score of 6.8) to say that they are concerned for energy than left-leaning Canadians (mean score of 4.8).

4. Importance of energy needs of Canadians in the next five years: In terms of energy needs for the next five years, just over two in five Canadians (41%) rank affordability as the most important need in the next five years, which is consistent with the previous wave. This was followed by reliability of energy (25%, up from 20% in 2023) and lower greenhouse gas emissions of energy (25%) which has decreased since the last wave in 2023 (31% in 2023). Right-leaning Canadians are more likely to say that affordability of energy is most important (53%), while left-leaning Canadians are more likely to say that lower greenhouse gas emissions of energy are most important (47%).

5. Interest and action taken in transitioning to electricity: When asked to think of their energy needs and the actions they are taking to transition more of the energy they use to electricity and away from things like gasoline, close to six in ten (55%) show “electrification potential” meaning they are either interested in transitioning and have taken steps to do so (27%) or are interested in transitioning but have not started yet (28%). These results are consistent with the previous wave (58%) but lower than in 2023 (66%). Thirteen per cent of Canadians say they are interested in transitioning and have done all that they plan to do (10% in 2024). Right-leaning Canadians are less likely to be interested in transitioning with a majority saying they are not interested in transitioning (61%) and less than one in five (15%) saying they are interested in transitioning and have taken steps to do so.

6. Job done by governments in Canada ensuring energy is affordable while working to meet climate change targets: Canadians are two times more likely to say governments in Canada do a very poor/poor job (40%) rather than a very good/good job (16%) of ensuring energy is affordable as Canada works to meet its climate change targets. This is a significant decrease in those who say very poor/poor job compared to the previous wave in April 2024 (40%, down from 52%). Of note, the percentage of Canadians who say governments in Canada do an average job at ensuring energy affordability has increased since the previous wave (34%; compared to 29% in April 2024) and is consistent with the 2023 wave. When asked the reason for their views, those who say Canada is currently doing a poor/very poor job most often said because energy/green alternatives/gas prices are high (18%); while those who believe the country is doing a good/very good job most often said because energy costs are reasonable/more affordable than other countries/should be higher to push people to green alternatives (39%).

7. Priority for new pipelines and confidence they will be built: Canadians are most likely to want new pipeline projects to both strengthen domestic energy security and help diversify our energy exports to other countries (55%). Just under one in five prefer that new pipelines prioritize strengthening domestic energy security (19%) while one in ten prefer projects that help diversify our energy exports to other countries (10%). In terms of confidence that new interprovincial pipelines can be built in Canada, Canadians have mixed views with just over three in ten who are confident (31% score 7- 10 out of 10) and under three in ten who have low confidence (28% score 0-3 out of 10). When asked the reason for their level of confidence, those who said they have a high level of confidence (score 7-10 out of 10) most often said because of economic necessity (28%); while those who had middle range scores (score of 4-6 out of 10) said there is a need for provincial cooperation (21%) and because of Quebec's opposition to pipelines (20%). Those who have low confidence (score 0-3 out of 10) most often said because of Quebec’s opposition to pipelines (20%).