PM Carney must enforce the Canada Health Act on Bill 11, new poll finds
A new national poll from Abacus Data, commissioned by the Canadian Health Coalition, finds Canadians are overwhelmingly worried about the future of public health care and opposed to Alberta’s Bill 11 — and wanting Prime Minister Mark Carney to do more, even as federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel comes under fire from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith for raising concerns about the unfair law.
Premier Smith pushed back publicly last week, calling health care delivery “an area of provincial jurisdiction, not federal” — this while her government takes in more than $7 billion this year in federal health funding.
Once told what Bill 11 does — letting doctors bill the public system or charge patients privately for the same medically necessary services — 53% of Canadians oppose it and just 32% support it. In Alberta, opposition is even stronger, at 56%. Canadians’ biggest worries are practical: 85% cite higher costs for patients, 83% unequal access and private insurance costs, and 81% longer public wait times.
Ninety-one percent of Canadians are concerned about the future of public health care, and 63% describe health care in their province as being in a state of crisis. Still, 85% say universal health care based on need, not income, is a core Canadian value, and 80% believe the system can meet Canadians’ needs if governments invest more in it. Just 13% think Ottawa should stay out of provincial health care decisions altogether. It’s clear that Canadians want Ottawa standing firmly against U.S.-style health care in Canada.
“Health Minister Marjorie Michel was right to raise the alarm on Bill 11, and she is clearly reflecting what Albertans and all Canadians expect,” said Jason MacLean, Chair of the Canadian Health Coalition. “What’s missing is the Prime Minister. Mr. Carney can’t leave his own health minister to fight this battle alone — he needs to enforce the Canada Health Act and tell Albertans, and Canadians everywhere, that this government has their back on public health care.”
On September 1 — the day Bill 11’ takes effect —health coalitions are holding a National Day of Action to Stop the Spread of Two-Tier, U.S.-Style Health Care, with demonstrations across the country and tools for Canadians to send a message straight to their MP and to Prime Minister Carney. Details and sign-up are available at https://dayofaction.healthcoalition.ca/
