Research

Environics Poll

New Poll Confirms that a Majority of Indigenous People Support Resource Development.

The Indigenous Resource Network, a non-partisan platform for Indigenous workers and business owners involved in resource development, commissioned a poll by Environics Research on Indigenous support for natural resource development. 549 self-identified First Nations, Métis and Inuit persons living in rural areas or on reserve across Canada were interviewed by telephone between March 25 to April 16, 2021.

Highlights from the Environics poll:

  • Support for resource development was higher for working-age (35 to 54 years) respondents (70%) than their younger cohort (18-34 Years) (56%)
  • Indigenous men were more likely to oppose resource development (28%) than Indigenous women (19%).
  • Strong support for natural resource development was consistently higher among those who felt they were well-informed about the topic. However, the majority did not feel particularly well-informed about natural resource development, with only three in ten (30%) who described themselves as very or extremely informed about the topic. More than one-third felt somewhat well-informed (38%), while three in ten did not feel well-informed (30%). 
  • Half of the respondents (49%) believed that resource development can definitely be done while respecting the land and the environment definitely can, with another third (36%) indicating that it may or may not be possible. Only one in ten (11%) believed being successful at both was definitely not a possibility. 
  • Indigenous people were more likely to support resource development if the project: 
    • Includes best practices in protecting the environment (79%), provides economic benefits such as jobs, business opportunities and revenues for the community (77%), has best practices in safety (77%), consults the community (69%) and receives community support to proceed (62%). 
  • The percentage of respondents who identified the following as an “urgent” priority to improving the quality of life in their community included:  better access to health care (56%), job opportunities from economic or resource development (55%), better access to education and training (53%); focus on traditional activities such as ceremonies or being on the land (39%); better governance (36%); increased transfer payments from the federal government to the community (33%).