Crudely Put: Oil by Rail Isn't Safe (54%), with Systemic Problems (61%) that Need a Formal Review (90%),
But Pipelines are Best Way to Ship (69%)

Toronto, ON - A majority of Canadians (54%) `disagree' that they're confident in the safety of transporting hazardous materials by rail in Canada, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of CTV News. Furthermore, six in ten (61%) believe the recent series of rail transportation accidents in Canada are symptoms of a larger safety problem, and nine in ten (90%) want a formal government review of the policies that govern the transportation of crude by rail.

In the wake of the Lac Megantic disaster and other recent transportation mishaps, Canadians say that government (30%) shares the blame with railway companies (24%), owners of tankers (19%), employees (14%), and others (4%), while just one in ten (10%) say no one is to blame.

While most (70%) believe businesses should strive to increase the amount of goods that are shipped by rail, when asked about what the best way is to ship crude oil from one place to another, the vast majority believe pipelines (69%) are best, followed by rail (18%) and by truck (13%).

Majority Lacks Confidence in Safety of Transporting Hazardous Materials by Rail...

A majority (54%) of Canadians `disagree' (17% strongly/38% somewhat) that they are `confident in the safety of transporting hazardous materials by rail in Canada', while only a minority (46%) `agree' (8% strongly/38% somewhat) they have confidence in its safety.

Residents of Quebec are most likely to `disagree' (63%) that they have confidence that its safe, followed by those living in Saskatchewan and Manitoba (61%), Alberta (57%), British Columbia (55%), Atlantic Canada (50%), and Ontario (47%). Conversely, residents of Ontario (53%) are most confident in its safety, followed by those living in Atlantic Canada (50%), British Columbia (45%), Alberta (43%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (39%) and Quebec (37%).

Interestingly, those aged 18 to 34 (53%) and 35 to 54 (52%) are much more likely than those aged 55+ (34%) to believe that transporting hazardous materials by rail is safe.

Rail Accidents Symptoms of a Larger Problem (61%), Not Isolated Incidents (39%)...

There have been a series of rail transportation accidents in Canada over the last year or so that have seen trains carrying hazardous materials derail - including an explosion in the town of Lac Megantic, Quebec, last summer following a derailment of crude oil.

Reflecting on these accidents, six in ten (61%) more closely believe that these incidents are `symptoms of a larger safety problem with the transportation of hazardous materials by rail', while four in ten (39%) are closer to the opinion that they are `isolated incidents that are unfortunately bound to happen from time to time despite precautions'.

Residents of Quebec (72%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (71%), Alberta (60%), British Columbia (57%) and Ontario (56%) are most likely to think the problem is systemic, with Atlantic Canadians (47%) less likely to think so. Atlantic Canadians (53%) are more likely to believe the accidents are isolated incidents, while Ontarians (44%), British Columbians (43%), Albertans (40%), residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (29%), and Quebec (28%) don't think so.

All Entities Share the Blame for Recent Accidents...

Thinking about who is to blame for the recent string of rail accidents in Canada, the data reveal that no one entity is singled out, and the blame is spread across multiple groups. Three in ten (30%) believe a `lack of oversight, regulation and inspection by the government' is the primary culprit, while one quarter (24%) maintain that `companies that own the railway tracks not maintaining them' are the most to blame. Two in ten (19%) say `companies that own the tankers not following safety protocols' are most to blame, while 14% think the blame should be placed on train engineers/crew and human error. Four percent (4%) say someone else is to blame, while one in ten (10%) don't assign any blame at all.

Quebecers (29%) are more likely than average (19%) to say that companies that own the tankers not following safety protocols are most to blame, and significantly less likely (6%) than the Canadian average (14%) to blame human error.

The Need for Government Review...

Almost all (90%) Canadians `agree' (51% strongly/39% somewhat) that `the government should launch a formal review of the policies governing the transportation of crude oil by rail', while just one in ten (10%) `disagree' (2% strongly/8% somewhat). This is not a contentious issue anywhere in the country, although Quebecers (95%) are most inclined to agree, followed by residents of British Columbia (92%), Atlantic Canada (92%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (91%), Ontario (87%) and Alberta (84%).

Seven in Ten (70%) Agree Canadians Business Should Strive to Increase the Amount of Goods that are Shipped by Rail...

The recent accidents haven't necessary turned Canadians off rail travel, and most would like rail freight expanded. Seven in ten (70%) `agree' (20% strongly/50% somewhat) that `Canadians business should strive to increase the amount of goods that are shipped by rail', while three in ten (30%) `disagree' (4% strongly/26% somewhat) that they should.

British Columbians (77%) most support rail freight expansion, followed by those in Atlantic Canada (76%), Ontario (72%), Alberta (64%), Quebec (64%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (61%). Men (73%) are also more likely than women (67%) to believe business should ship more by train.

But Canadians Say Pipelines the Best Way to Transport Crude Oil...

While most want freight by rail to expand, seven in ten (69%) Canadians believe that the best way of shipping crude oil, specifically, from one location to another is by pipeline, compared to two in ten (18%) who prefer rail and 13% who prefer by truck.

Pipelines are preferred across all segments and regions of the country, but garner the highest levels of support in Alberta (81%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (76%), Ontario (74%), ahead of those in Quebec (64%), British Columbia (61%) and Atlantic Canada (54%).

Rail is most popular in Atlantic Canada (23%), followed by British Columbia (20%), Ontario (19%), Alberta (17%), Quebec (16%) and Saskatchewan and Manitoba (14%).

Trucks are most popular in Atlantic Canada (23%), followed by Quebec (20%), British Columbia (18%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (11%), Ontario (8%) and Alberta (2%).

Most (78%) Still Confident in Safety of Passenger Rail Travel...

Despite the recent accidents - including a passenger train accident near Ottawa in 2013 - most (78%) Canadians `agree' (25% strongly/54% somewhat) that they are `confident in the safety of passenger rail travel in Canada'. Conversely, only two in ten (22%) `disagree' (5% strongly/17% somewhat) that they are confident in its safety.

Atlantic Canadians (86%) are most likely to be confident in the safety of passenger rail travel, while those living in Ontario (84%), Alberta (84%), British Columbia (75%), Saskatchewan and Manitoba (74%) and finally Quebec (68%). Conversely, Quebecers (32%) are most likely to disagree they have confidence in passenger rail safety, while residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (26%), BC (25%), Alberta (16%), Ontario (16%) and Atlantic Canada (14%) are less inclined to express doubts about its safety.

These are some of the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted between January 20 to 22, 2014, on behalf of CTV News. For this survey, a sample of 1,000 Canadians from Ipsos' Canadian online panel was interviewed online. Weighting was then employed to balance demographics to ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the adult population according to Census data and to provide results intended to approximate the sample universe. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within +/-3.5 percentage points had all Canadians adults been polled. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

John Wright
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
416.324.2002
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid

Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

About Ipsos

Ipsos is an independent market research company controlled and managed by research professionals. Founded in France in 1975, Ipsos has grown into a worldwide research group with a strong presence in all key markets. In October 2011 Ipsos completed the acquisition of Synovate. The combination forms the world's third largest market research company.

With offices in 85 countries, Ipsos delivers insightful expertise across six research specializations: advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, public affairs research, and survey management.

Ipsos researchers assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media and they measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos has been listed on the Paris Stock Exchange since 1999 and generated global revenues of e1,789 billion (2.300 billion USD) in 2012.