Canadians and Albertans Speak on Alberta's Bill 11

84% of Canadians, Including 91% of Albertans, Say That The Federal Government Has A Significant Role To Play In Ensuring That The Government of Alberta's Actions Are Consistent With The Intent and Spirit of The Canada Health Act

Edmonton, Alberta, April 20, 2000 -- The results of an Angus Reid/CTV/Globe and Mail survey conducted prior to the staged protests in Alberta against the government's new healthcare legislation (Bill 11) show that the nation is split (50% support, 47% oppose) but a majority of Albertans (59%) are against the Alberta government's proposal to allow privately owned health institutions to offer services like hip replacements. A strong majority of Canadians (82%) say that if Alberta's proposal is enacted it will have broad implications for healthcare right across the country. Overwhelmingly, Canadians (84%) and Albertans (91%) agree that the Federal Government has a significant role to play in ensuring that the Government of Alberta's actions are consistent with the intent and spirit of the Canada Health Act.

These are the findings of an Angus Reid poll conducted between March 23rd and March 31st 2000. The poll is based on a randomly selected sample of 1,500 adult Canadians. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were statistically weighted to ensure the sample's regional and age/sex composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to the 1996 Census data.

Nation Split (50% Support, 47% Oppose) But A Majority (59%) of Albertans Are Against New Healthcare Scheme

Canadians are split (50% support, 47% oppose) while a majority (59%) of Albertans are opposed to the Alberta government's intention to allow privately-owned health institutions to offer services like hip replacements and be paid by the government with taxpayers' dollars.

• Eighty-two percent of Albertans and half (49%) of Canadians say they are familiar with this proposal, but of those who are familiar, only half (49%) of Canadians but 68 percent of Albertans know that it will involve the use of public money.

82% of Canadians Say New Alberta Healthcare Measures Have Broad Implications For Healthcare Across The Country

A strong majority of Canadians say that "this proposed change in Alberta will have broad implications for healthcare right across the country." This compares with only 15 percent who say that "if enacted this proposal will only affect the healthcare system of Albertans and will not have an effect on how healthcare is delivered in other parts of the country."

• Four in ten (39%) Canadians agree that "the Alberta government's proposals will destroy public Medicare in Canada."
• More than three-quarters (77%) of Canadians agree that "we wouldn't even be talking about this if governments would just provide the public healthcare system with the necessary funding." This includes a majority (55%) who "strongly agree" and one in five (22%) who "somewhat agree."
• Meanwhile, a minority (37%) of Canadians agrees "that healthcare in Canada works just fine the way it is now."
• Underscoring this is the fact that seven in ten (69%) Canadians agree with the statement "anything that can be done to improve healthcare services and reduce waiting times in Canada should be done, including paying private facilities to provide certain healthcare services."
• Furthermore, 56 percent of Canadians agree that "smaller, privately-owned medical facilities will be more efficient than large, public facilities."
• Nonetheless, less than a majority (47%) agree that "it is alright if Canada's heathcare system evolves into a two-tier system." However if the large number of Quebecers (63%) who agree that a two tiered system is alright are removed from the analysis, the national average falls to 42 percent. In Alberta, only three in ten (29%) agree with this statement.

84% of Canadians, Including 91% Of Albertans, Say That The Federal Government Has A Significant Role To Play In Ensuring That The Government of Alberta's Actions Are Consistent With The Intent And Spirit of The Canada Health Act

A large number of Canadians (84%) and an even larger number of Albertans (91%) agree that "the Government of Canada has a significant role to play in ensuring that the Government of Alberta's actions are consistent with the intent and spirit of the Canada Health Act." This includes a majority (53%) of Canadians and nearly seven in ten (68%) Albertans who "strongly agree." Three in ten (31%) Canadians and a quarter (23%) of Albertans say they "somewhat agree" with this statement.

To view the complete media release please download the PDF file.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

John Wright
Senior Vice President
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900