THREE QUARTERS (73%) OF CANADIANS SAY THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM'S VITALS SIGNS ARE FAILING

THREE QUARTERS (73%) OF CANADIANS SAY THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM'S VITALS SIGNS ARE FAILING

EIGHT IN TEN (78%) ARE NOT WILLING TO PAY MORE TAX TO HELP FUND THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM

This Angus Reid Group poll was conducted on behalf of CTV, Chatelaine Magazine and the Medical Post. The results presented here are from a survey conducted in June 1998 consisting of 1501 telephone interviews with a representative cross-section of the adult Canadian public. The margin of error for a sample of this size is +2.5, 19 times out of 20. 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.

The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population.

A majority of Canadians (73%) believe the national healthcare system has worsened over the past five years, and almost eight in ten (78%) say they are unwilling to pay extra taxes to help fund the healthcare system.

The following highlights are taken from a survey conducted in June 1998 with a representative cross-section of 1,501 Canadian adults. A sample of this size is said to have a corresponding margin of error of +2.5%.

Most Say the Healthcare System is Worse than Five Years Ago

Seventy-three percent of Canadians believe that the healthcare system has worsened in the past five years, while 20% say it has stayed the same and only 5% argue that it has improved. (Table 1)

• Residents of Saskatchewan/Manitoba (80%) and Quebec (78%) are the most likely to indicate that the healthcare system has deteriorated in the past five years.
• Women (80%) are more likely than men (65%) to argue that there has been a worsening in healthcare.

Canadians Not Willing to Pay More in Taxes to Fund Healthcare

Eight in ten (78%) say they are not willing to pay more in income tax to help fund the healthcare system. In fact, the majority of Canadians (63%) are very unwilling, while 15% say they are somewhat unwilling. Of those who indicate that they are willing (21%) to pay more in tax, 16% are somewhat willing and only 5% say they are very willing. (Table 2)

• Quebecers (90%) are more likely than Canadians in other regions to indicate that they are unwilling to pay extra in taxes.
• Respondents with a university education (71%) are less likely than those with less than a university education (80%) to be unwilling to pay more in tax to help fund the healthcare system.

For further information, please contact:

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