A new poll found only 38 per cent support in this province for Kinder Morgan’s proposed twinning of the Trans-Mountain pipeline.

The poll by Insights West conducted in January found that 60 per cent of those polled were familiar with the project, compared with 96 per cent awareness of Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway of those surveyed in B.C.

Kinder Morgan did not return a message seeking comment.

Pollster Steve Mossop said more awareness and education about pipelines has little bearing on views: British Columbians are steadfastly opposed to new pipelines, while Albertans value them.

“Any party that comes out strongly in favour of pipelines . . . risks some political points being lost,” Mossop said. “British Columbians have said over and over they’re opposed to pipelines.”

The B.C. Liberal government has said it will not support any new pipelines that don’t satisfy five key conditions, including world-class disaster prevention, aboriginal support and revenue benefits to B.C.

The current Trans-Mountain pipeline takes petroleum products from the Edmonton area to a terminal in Burnaby, running through Kamloops. That section includes rights of way through Westsyde and Lac Du Bois park.

Support in Alberta for twinning by Trans-Mountain owner Kinder Morgan, by contrast, is 75 per cent.

The poll surveyed 512 British Columbians and 562 Albertans. Only 28 per cent of Albertans were familiar with the project.

Mossop also said there is little surprise in findings that British Columbians are opposed to pipelines, including Enbridge’s Northern Gateway, which also garnered support from only 35 per cent of residents surveyed in this province.

The poll was conducted Jan. 14-20, using Insights West’s in-house access panel. It is considered accurate plus or minus 4.3 per cent, 19 times out of 20.