- Canadian adults remain concerned about their medical services, according to a poll by Innovative Research Group for the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute. 24 per cent of respondents think health care is the most important issue facing Canada today.

The environment is second on the list with 20 per cent, followed by the economy with 11 per cent, social issues with eight per cent, defence and security also with eight per cent, federal/provincial relations with five per cent, and crime with four per cent.

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.

Canadians renewed the House of Commons in January. The Conservative party—led by Stephen Harper—received 36.3 per cent of the vote, and secured 124 seats in the 308-member lower house. Since February, Harper leads a minority administration after more than 12 years of government by the Liberal party.

The Conservatives discussed the possibility of allowing a combination of public and private health care delivery, and vowed to improve waiting times for patients by the end of this year.

Last month, Harper announced that his government would "set in motion Canada's first comprehensive and integrated approach to tackle air pollution and greenhouse gases and in doing so deliver better air quality and address climate change."

On Oct. 31, New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jack Layton hinted at a no-confidence motion on the government, saying, "I'm not really convinced that the prime minister understands the urgency of the climate change crisis, the threat that climate change proposes and the urgency to move quickly. Far too much emphasis on consultations that could go on for considerable periods of time as opposed to action."

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