Most British Columbians on the fence over Northern Gateway Pipeline: report

British Columbians aren't as anti-pipeline as you might think.

According to a new Angus Reid survey released Wednesday, 51 per cent of British Colombians don't have a firm opinion on the proposed Enbridge Gateway Pipeline project.

59 per cent of those surveyed said that they oppose the proposed Enbridge Gateway Pipeline project. Of those 59 per cent, however, 24 per cent said they could change their minds based on economic or environmental considerations.

Conversely, 27 per cent of those who support the pipeline admit their minds could change too.

The results of the poll seem to reflect B.C. Premier Christy Clark's position.

Two weeks ago, her Liberal government outlined their five "minimum requirements" for the pipeline project. The conditions included: completion of the environmental review process, First Nations accommodation, improved marine and land spill response and benefit sharing.

Pundits and politicians across the country have been railing against Clark, because of her stance, with some even calling her "un-Canadian."

On Wednesday however, B.C.'s most senior federal cabinet minister James Moore came to Clark's defence — at least about the need for stringent environmental reviews.

"Christy Clark is very much in the right in terms of her responsibility to represent British Columbians to make sure they know that the rest of the country understands that just because B.C. is physically the Asian Pacific Gateway it doesn't mean that we're the doormat for companies like Enbridge that think they can go ahead and do business without having due diligence taking care of the public's interest," he told CKNW Radio in Vancouver.

"I believe in getting Canada's energy products to world markets, and I believe that's in Canada's interests and I believe that's in British Columbia's interests. But this project will not survive public scrutiny unless Enbridge takes far more seriously their obligations to engage with the public and to answer those very legitimate questions about the way in which they have operated their business in the very recent past."

Moore also nixed the idea that his government would ram through the Northern Gateway Pipeline no matter what.

"The joint review panel on the environmental assessment on Enbridge will matter," he said.

"Anybody who is making assumptions about the ultimate goal of the federal government should understand our goal is not to ram through the pipeline but is to put in place the best policies to ensure Canadian products can get to market with the consent of Canadians."

The joint review panel is expected to continue their public hearings through the early part of 2013.