People divided over plans to build coal facility: poll
Posted October 6, 2014 6:07 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Coal is generating a heated debate in the Lower Mainland and it seems most of us are still wary of expansion plans by Port Metro Vancouver at Fraser Surrey Docks.
The latest poll from Insights-West shows supporters and opponents of the facility are only divided by one point.
Mario Canseco with Insights West says two-thirds of people polled were concerned about air quality.
“You know we do see there is a lot of people who might be happy with the idea that this is going to be creating jobs but there is also a very high conern about coal dust being an environemntal threat. Seventy-three per cent of residents in Metro Vancouver are feeling this way,” Canseco explains. “We do see that there is a high level of doubt on whether this is going to happen properly.”
“We only see 43 per cent of residents who say that they have confidence that the coal will be handled properly and no difficulties will arise. This is a very low number, usually you want to see the number in the 60s or 70s.”
If the plan goes ahead, it would see four mega-tonnes of coal per year pass through the Lower Mainland.
A legal challenge against the Port to stop the project from being built has been launched by environmental group Ecojustice.
