Canadians are increasingly prioritizing economic growth over environmental concerns
The downgrading of environmental concerns in Canada is some way behind that of the US, especially since Donald Trump was re-elected, but fewer Canadians are prioritizing going green over economic prosperity.
That’s according to a new survey from the Angus Reid Institute which asks Canadians about energy policy and where they want lawmakers to focus their efforts. More than four in ten respondents (43%) said economic growth is a key factor to deciding energy policy, compared to just 23% who said this 18 months ago.
Looking back to August 2023, 44% of respondents to a similar poll said that environmental concerns were the most important factor in shaping energy policy, but in 2025 that has dropped to 31% to be overshadowed by decreasing reliance on international sources of energy (46%), economic growth (43%), investing in alternatives (38%) and bringing down the price of gas (34%).
The share of respondents who prioritize reducing carbon emissions/protecting the natural environment has slipped to 31% from 44% in 2023.
For investors backing renewables, the popularity of different options makes interesting reading with further development of hydroelectric sources taking top spot (88%), followed by solar (77%), wind (72%) and nuclear power (63%).
Across all regions, wind, solar, and hydro have majority support for development, while nuclear gets the backing of most regions except Quebec.
A report from 2024 found that Canada's financial institutions are not investing enough in renewable energy to meet the necessary levels for achieving net zero emissions.
The survey reveals continued majority support for natural gas (61%) and crude oil (51%), despite these ranking below renewables.
Last year, a report from the Winnipeg-headquartered International Institute for Sustainable Development warned that reliance on fossil fuels “keeps consumers stuck on an energy price rollercoaster and exposes Canada to energy price-driven inflation.”
