RESTORE HEALTHCARE FUNDING TAKEN FROM PROVINCES FULL MAJORITY SAY

RESTORE HEALTHCARE FUNDING TAKEN FROM PROVINCES FULL MAJORITY SAY (80%)

SIX IN TEN (61%) SAY THAT FINANCE MINISTER'S CAUTIOUSNESS ON DEFICIT NEEDLESSLY SHORT-CHANGES HEALTHCARE IN BUDGET

DESPITE CONTINUING EROSION IN EVALUATION OF HEALTHCARE SYSTEM, TWO THIRDS (65%) STILL BELIEVE THEY'D GET SERVICES WHEN NEEDED

This Angus Reid Group/Globe and Mail poll was conducted by telephone from January 20th to the 25th, 1999 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.

In the wake of a ground-breaking agreement between the federal and provincial governments (excluding Quebec), Canadians (80%) will get their wish that the federal government restore healthcare funding taken from the provincial governments. In fact, six in ten (61%) Canadians believe that Paul Martin's cautiousness regarding the deficit needlessly short-changes funding to healthcare. However, two thirds (65%) still believe they would get the services they needed when they were needed.

This National Angus Reid Poll is the result of a telephone survey among 1,515 Canadians between January 20th and January 25th, 1999. The following findings provide an insight into Canadians' views of healthcare in Canada.

CANADIANS' ASSESSMENT OF THEIR HEALTHCARE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO ERODE

Since last February, those who rate the healthcare system fair/poor/very poor has increased from 32% (in February 1998 - up 12%) to the current level of 44% nationally. Overall, since 1991, those stating the system is fair/poor/very poor has increased from 12% to 31%. Alberta (up 25%), Manitoba (up 21%) and BC (up 18%) lead the way as the provinces with the greatest decline in evaluation. In fact, erosion of the public's assessment of Canada's healthcare system is witnessed in every province/region.

The erosion of confidence is further witnessed in that the majority (57%) of Canadians believe that the quality of healthcare services in their community has worsened over the past couple of years.

Interestingly, even though a full majority (57%) still believe the quality of healthcare services in their community has worsened, a full two thirds (65%) are confident that if they had a serious medical problem, they would get the healthcare services that they need.

MONEY IS THE PROBLEM?

Seven in ten (71%) Canadians believe that the main problem in healthcare is that we're just not spending enough to provide the services that are needed. However,

Who's to blame? - provinces take the brunt

A slim majority (51%) hold their provincial government responsible for the worsening state of healthcare in Canada. Another 26% hold the federal government accountable, while 19% say it is both governments.

However, six in ten (61%) agree that Paul Martin is too cautious about the deficit (leading) to our healthcare system getting needlessly short-changed in his budgets.

SOLUTIONS - NOT NECESSARILY A MATTER OF FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT

The public is evenly split over whether the quality of our healthcare services would be better today if the provinces spend their healthcare budgets. Indeed, 49% of Canadians support the notion that the quality of our healthcare services would be better today if the federal government had more control than it does over how the provinces spend their healthcare budgets. The other half (48%) don't think that healthcare services would be better if the federal government had more control of provincial spending on healthcare. Only in Ontario (53%) and Atlantic Canada (54%) is there a majority who believe that increased federal government control would translate into better quality services.

Nevertheless, an overwhelming majority (80%) believes that now that the federal government has eliminated its deficit, it's time that they restore ALL of the money that they cut in healthcare transfers to the provinces. In fact, six in ten (61%) believe that Finance Minister Paul Martin is too cautious about the deficit... leading to our healthcare system getting needlessly short-changed in his budgets.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Darrell Bricker
Executive Vice-President
Angus Reid Group
(416) 324-290

Christian Bourque
Directeur de recherche Affaires
Groupe Angus Reid
(514) 877-5550