Less Than Half of Canadians Satisfied with Health Care System, Majority support Privatization: Poll

Less than half of Canadians are satisfied with their provincial health care system, a new study reveals. The poll was conducted for the Montreal Economic Institute by Ipsos between March 17 and 20, and it involved 1,164 Canadians aged 18 and older. Questions and concerns regarding Canada’s health care system have been raised on multiple occasions in the past and most people believe private entities can provide faster services.

Ipsos conducted a poll for the Montreal Economic Institute to find out how many Canadians were satisfied with the provincial health care system. The poll shows 48 percent of Canadians are not pleased with the country’s health care system. It also shows that 67 percent of Canadians believe private entities are able to provide health care services faster than publicly funded institutions. The study involved 1,164 Canadians aged 18 and older.

Four in 10 people believe that the investments made in health care over the last decade have not improved the system in any way. Furthermore, around 30 percent believe the health care system has instead deteriorated over the same period of time.

The poll also revealed that about 52 percent of Canadians believe that access to private health care should be increased.

In terms of provincial dissatisfaction, it was 47 percent in B.C., 49 percent in Alberta, 64 percent in Sask, 45 percent in Ontario, 49 percent in Quebec, and 75 percent in Atlantic.

While the government has repeatedly pushed back against the idea of privatized health care, Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government is trying to implement more private partners in the province’s health care system.

Vineet Washington