Voters want premiers to take action on health care crisis: new poll

Ottawa – A timely new poll by Environics Research for the Canadian Health Coalition finds deep public concern about public health care. Canadians want their premiers to work with the federal government to end what 74% believe is a crisis in their provincial health systems.

“Voters have a message for their premiers when they meet in Halifax for the Council of the Federation,” said Canadian Health Coalition chairperson Jason MacLean. “Canadians want provinces and territories to work with the federal government to improve public health care for everyone.”

The public is aware of federal plans to offer provinces and territories funding for a national universal pharmacare program, and supports public coverage of contraceptives, such as birth control pills, and diabetes medications and devices, such as insulin and insulin pumps.  

The Canadian Health Coalition commissioned Environics Research to conduct this online survey of 2,135 Canadians which was conducted between June 26 and July 9, 2024. The following are some key findings:

• Seven in ten Canadians (74%) say that health care in their province is currently in crisis.
• Alarmingly, over one third of Canadians (40%) report that they or family members have avoided going to emergency at a hospital due to stories and concerns about very long waits to be seen by anyone.
• Six in ten Canadians (62%) have heard about the new federal Pharmacare Act and the vast majority (80%) want their premier to work with the federal government to implement pharmacare. Almost half (46%) say they would be less likely to vote for their premier if they reject working with the federal government on pharmacare.
• When asked to rate health care-related issues in their province, eight in ten (80%) say shortages of health care workers such as doctors, nurses and allied health professionals is a major concern and most (64%) feel their premier is not doing enough to address this problem.
• The vast majority (83%) support their provincial and territorial governments making a significant investment in building more public long-term care and assisted living facilities.

View full results here.

The Canadian Health Coalition was founded in 1979 to support and expand public health care. It comprises citizens, frontline health care workers’ unions, community groups, students, and public health experts.