Canadians Agree Healthcare Should Be the Priority for Both the Provincial (84%) and Federal Governments (73%)

Toronto, ON - Canadians `agree' that health care should be both the federal (73% -- 30% strongly/43% somewhat) and provincial government's (84% -- 39% strongly/45% somewhat) top priority, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Canadian Medical Association, and with the federal-provincial healthcare accord set to expire in three years, Canadians want to see action sooner rather than later.

In 2004, the federal and provincial governments agreed on a healthcare accord that determined how much the federal government would contribute to the provincial healthcare systems, but this accord is set to expire 2014. However, most (80%) Canadians are `unaware' (59% strongly/21% not very) of this, while just two in ten (19%) claim to be `aware' (5% very/14% somewhat).

But once Canadians learn that the accord is set to expire in just three years, most (88%) `agree' (55% strongly/33% somewhat) that `the federal government should initiate discussions with the provinces and territories now to allow enough time for these complicated negotiations to play out'. Seven in ten (68%) respondents (37% strongly disagree, 31% somewhat disagree) reject the idea that the Federal government's focus on the economy justifies delaying discussions to renew the health accord with the provinces.

Thinking about which federal party is the most committed to improving the healthcare system, Canadians haven't given a solid endorsement of any of the parties. Three in ten (30%) don't believe any of the parties is most committed, while the NDP (24%) best the Liberals (16%), Conservatives (14%), Bloc (4%) and Green Party (2%). One in ten (10%) simply don't know which party is most committed to improving the healthcare system.

Looking ahead to how the system could be structured in 2014, most (86%) Canadians `agree' (48% strongly/38% somewhat) that `patient needs should guide what healthcare services are available, rather than providing healthcare services based on budgets that are predetermined by governments'. Similarly, most (80%) more closely identify with the position that `governments should determine what is required of the healthcare system to ensure that it best meets the needs of patients, and then allocate the necessary funding'. Just two in ten (18%) more closely believe that `government should first decide how much money they plan to allocate to healthcare services and then determine what health services will be available to Canadians'.

These feelings are likely based on some of their opinions of the system today: three quarters (75%) `agree' (42% strongly/33% somewhat) that they are `concerned about the lack of long-term care facilities in their province or territory', while a similar proportion (73%) `agrees' (37% strongly/35% somewhat) that they are `concerned about the cost of prescription medications'.

Canada's doctors are launching a national consultation to give Canadians an opportunity to say what improvements they expect of the healthcare system, and doctors will present the information in a report to various levels of government. While awareness (27%) of these consultations is generally low (5% very aware/22% somewhat), most (92%) Canadians are `supportive' (47% strongly/45% somewhat) of them. In fact, Canadians are optimistic for a positive outcome, as most (92%) `agree' (54% strongly/38% somewhat) that the results `should have an influence on government decision making about the future of the healthcare system', and seven in ten (69%) `agree' (19% strongly/50% somewhat) that `the results from these kinds of public consultation will have an influence on government decision making about the future of the healthcare system'.

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Canadian Medical Association from January 13th to January 20th 2011. For the survey, a representative randomly-selected sample of 1,000 adult Canadians was interviewed by telephone. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 3.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire adult population of Canada been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. In addition, a representative randomly selected oversample of 800 adult residents of Atlantic Canada was interviewed by telephone, yielding a margin of error of 177 3.46 percentage points. These data were weighted to ensure that the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to coverage error, and measurement error.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Will Daley
Vice President
Ipsos Public Affairs
613.688.8979
[email protected]

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