The National Post reports in its Friday, Aug. 7, edition that a new survey from the Angus Reid Institute shows that 54 per cent of Canadians believe the federal government should retain ownership of the Trans Mountain pipeline corridor. The Post's Ellie Hutchings writes that this compared with 23 per cent who would sell to the private sector to recoup taxpayer funds. Support for government ownership was highest in Atlantic Canada, at 62 per cent, and lowest in Quebec, at 44 per cent. When split by federal vote, all groups expressed majority support for Ottawa keeping TMX, with Liberal voters most enthusiastic at 65 per cent, while 50 per cent of Conservative voters and 52 per cent of NDP voters also agreed. Angus Reid said long-term ownership by Ottawa has been made more palatable by Canadians' broader attitudes toward public infrastructure ownership, with more than half (56 per cent) of survey respondents saying it is appropriate for governments to invest in or own pipelines. In comparison, 21 per cent said they should be owned and operated solely by the private sector. The poll lands as ownership of the pipeline is being debated, with Trans Mountain leadership arguing there is a case for Ottawa to remain as owner.