THE PUBLIC AGENDA

THE PUBLIC AGENDA

HEALTHCARE CLEARLY NUMBER ONE ISSUE ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA

This Angus Reid Group/CTV/Globe and Mail poll was conducted by telephone between November 9th and November 15th, 1998 among a representative cross-section of 1,515 Canadian adults.

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.

With a national sample of 1,515, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results are within +2.5 percentage points of what they would have been had the entire adult Canadian population been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

HEALTHCARE CLEARLY NUMBER ONE ISSUE ON THE PUBLIC AGENDA

Forty percent of Canadians feel healthcare is the issue that should receive the greatest amount of attention from Canada's leaders -- more than double the concern for healthcare at the beginning of the year (17% in January 1998) according to this most recent National Angus Reid Poll. Healthcare (40%) outranks unemployment/jobs (27%) and national unity/Quebec (27%) in this most recent sounding of public opinion.

The following are the highlights from the survey conducted between November 9th and 15th, 1998 amongst a representative cross-section of 1,515 Canadian adults.

• At the top of the public agenda, the state of Canada's healthcare system is viewed as the most pressing concern by 40 percent of Canadians. Up 10 percentage points since September, concern for healthcare is more than double the number recorded in January 1998 (17%) and 13 points above the next most important issue facing Canadians. This issue is most acute in Quebec (47%), Atlantic Canada (46%), Manitoba/Saskatchewan (41%) and Ontario (40%). Women (47%) and older Canadians (45%) are more likely than men (34%) to cite healthcare as the most important issue.
• Jobs/unemployment is considered the second most important issue facing Canadians by 27% (down just 1 point since September and down from 49% in July, 1997). The jobs/unemployment issue is most pressing in Quйbec (45%) and Atlantic Canada (43%).
• National unity/Quйbec's future was mentioned by 27 percent of respondents consistent with levels since this past summer. National Unity receives the most attention as an issue in Alberta (32%), BC (31%) and Ontario (30%).
• The overall state of the economy was cited by 22 percent of Canadians polled (down 2 points since September). Issues concerning education were mentioned by 20 percent of respondents (up 2 points since September).
• Government deficits/debt was cited as a public policy priority by 15 percent of surveyed Canadians, virtually unchanged since January 1998.
• Nine percent of respondents mentioned taxes/taxation as a critical issue facing Canada and its leaders today.
• Consistent with recent soundings, issues relating to poverty were singled out by 8 percent of surveyed Canadians.
• Crime/justice issues also received mentions from five percent of surveyed Canadians, consistent with previous findings.
• The environment was mentioned by four percent of those polled as a pressing national concern.
• Other social services were cited by four percent.

A number of other issues were mentioned by smaller numbers of survey respondents, including: government/politics (3%); the value of the Canadian dollar (3%); immigration/refugees (2%); trade issues (2%); native issues (2%); other issues were cited by still fewer respondents.

For more information on this news release, please contact:

Darrell Bricker
Executive Vice-President
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-2900