(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Adults in Canada place their country’s medical services as the top priority, according to a poll by The Strategic Counsel released by CTV and the Globe and Mail. 16 per cent of respondents say health care is the most important issue facing Canadians today.
(Angus Reid Global Scan) – Adults in Canada place their country’s medical services as the top priority, according to a poll by The Strategic Counsel released by CTV and the Globe and Mail. 16 per cent of respondents say health care is the most important issue facing Canadians today.
In Canada, the universality criterion establishes that all residents of a province or territory must be entitled to the insured, public-run health services provided by their provincial or territorial health care insurance plan on uniform terms and conditions.
In June, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that forbidding residents of Quebec from getting private insurance for services that are not covered by the country’s universal health care system is a violation of the province’s Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms. Prime minister Paul Martin ruled out any immediate changes to federal programs, saying, “We’re not going to have a two-tier health care system in this country. (…) Our purpose is to strengthen our universal public system and to provide timely access to medical services.”
Martin took over as Canada’s prime minister in December 2003. In the June 2004 election, his Liberal party secured a minority government with 135 seats in the House of Commons. The Liberal electoral platform promised $6.6 billion U.S. to improve Canada’s health care system and reduce waiting times for critical services.
Other social issues, infrastructure and environment, terrorism, economic issues, leadership and stability are next on the list of concerns. Only two per cent of respondents mention corruption and the sponsorship inquiry.
Polling Data
What is the most important issue facing Canadians today—that is the one about which you are most concerned?
Health care | 16% |
Other social issues | 12% |
Infrastructure / Environment | 9% |
Terrorism | 8% |
Economic issues | 7% |
Leadership / Stability | 7% |
Government spending | 5% |
Unemployment / Employment | 3% |
Taxes | 3% |
Education | 2% |
Sponsorship inquiry / Corruption | 2% |
Source: The Strategic Counsel / CTV / The Globe and Mail
Methodology: Interviews to 1,000 Canadian adults, conducted from Aug. 3 to Aug. 7, 2005. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.
