Majority of Canadians favour a mix of public and private health care
In the seventh wave of the Campaign Research Poll, a national online public opinion survey conducted among a sample of 1770 Canadian voters, more than half (54%) described our health care system as good (42%) or excellent (12%). A third of Canadians describe it as fair (31%), while 1 in 10 (11%) describe it as poor. Seeing the system as excellent is especially common among the youngest (22%), males (16%) rather than females (9%), in Alberta (19%), in Ontario outside the GTA (16%), among Liberals (18%) and among the least wealthy (17%). Seeing the system as poor is common to the oldest (55+ - 15%), those in Quebec (18%) the least wealthy (less than $20,000 - 18%).
MAJORITY FAVOUR A PUBLIC SYSTEM WITH PRIVATE OPTIONS AND INSURANCE
The majority of Canadians desire a public health care system with private options and insurance (53%), while one third select a completely public system with no private options (33%). Very few choose a completely private system with private insurance (4%). Preference for a mixed system is especially common among the young (25 to 34 - 57%), females (56%) rather than males (50%), in BC (59%), among Conservatives (66%) and among the very wealthiest ($100K to $250K - 60%). Favouring a completely public system with no private component is common to the mid aged (35 to 44 - 38%) and the oldest (37%), males (38%) rather than females (29%), in Quebec especially (39%), among New Democrats (38%), Liberals and Greens (37% each) and among the less wealthy (under $40K - 40%).
“It is clear that a majority of Canadians desire more choice when it comes to their health care coverage. This desire transcends partisan politics as a majority from all three main parties want a mix of public and private coverage.” said Eli Yufest, CEO of Campaign Research. Eli may be reached at eyufest@campaignresearch.ca or at (647) 931 4025, ext. 109
METHODOLOGY
This online poll was conducted between September 8 and 11, 2017 among a panel of 1770 Canadian voters. A probability sample of this size would have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.3%, 19 out of 20 times.
