Fuente : Centre for Public Opinion & Democracy
http://www.cpod.ubc.ca/

Health Care Top Issue In Canada

/noticias.info/ (Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) – Many adults in Canada are concerned about the country’s medical services, according to a poll by The Strategic Counsel published in Maclean’s. 29 per cent of respondents say health care and hospitals are the most important issues facing the country today.

In Canada, the universality criterion establishes that all residents of a province or territory must be entitled to the insured, public-run health services provided by their provincial or territorial health care insurance plan on uniform terms and conditions.

Liberal leader Paul Martin took over as Canada’s prime minister in December 2003. In the June 2004 federal election, his party secured a minority government with 135 seats in the House of Commons. Martin promised to invest $6.6 billion U.S. to improve Canada’s health care system and reduce waiting times for critical services.

Unemployment and the economy were next on the list of concerns at 10 per cent, followed by social issues, government matters, taxes and the environment. As far as priorities for the Martin government, 33 per cent of respondents want the prime minister to focus on improving social programs, while 18 per cent want to reduce the debt.

Polling Data

What is the most important issue facing Canada today? The top responses:

2004
2003

Health care / Hospitals
29%
27%

Unemployment / Economy
10%
14%

Social issues
5%
6%

Government / Other political
4%
6%

Taxes
4%
4%

Environment
4%
3%

Which one of the following options would you prefer that Paul Martin make as his priority?

Focusing on improving social programs
33%

Reducing the debt
18%

Focusing on upgrading
and modernizing the military
12%

Working to increase Canada’s
influence in the world
11%

Investing in cities
9%

Having a closer relationship with the U.S.
8%

Giving a greater role to MPs
3%

Source: Maclean’s / The Strategic Counsel
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 1,000 adult Canadians, conducted from Nov. 26 to Nov. 30, 2004. Margin of error is 3.1 per cent.

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