Health care top issue for Canadians: Election poll

Source from: http://www.canada.com
Health care tops a long list of concerns Canadians want federal parties to address during the election campaign, a Postmedia News poll shows.

The online poll conducted by Ipsos Reid exclusively for Postmedia News and Global National revealed that 18 per cent of Canadians felt health care was the most compelling issue, but that the economy, taxes and jobs should also garner politicians' attention between now and voting day May 2.

"The concern is about what the health-care plan is for the future. There's a sense that health care is drifting along, but it's an important part of our identity as Canadians. And, as our population is aging, it's a life and death issue. (Voters) are concerned about health care and it's just that they don't see anybody having a particular compelling plan on it," said Darrell Bricker, president of the global polling firm.

Ipsos Reid asked Canadians to name an important issue they'd mention if a local candidate for Parliament knocked on their door in the middle of a campaign. Fifteen per cent of respondents selected the economy, 12 per cent chose taxes and eight per cent felt unemployment was a national issues parties needed to address.

Bricker said the wide range showed the election, triggered after the government was defeated in the House of Commons on Friday following a Liberal non-confidence motion, doesn't really have a focal point.

"It's an election about nothing at this stage. There's no compelling issue that's emerged that says what this campaign is about," Bricker said.

He said polling results in 1988, for example, showed that more than 70 per cent of Canadians named free trade as an issue parties needed to take a stance on while campaigning, while ethics played a key role in 2006.

Bricker said that in 2008, the economy was a top priority for Canadians heading to the polls, but because the situation has improved, health care has returned to its original position higher up on the radar.

The federal government has limited jurisdiction over health care, a concept most Canadians aren't aware of though, Bricker noted.

Still, federal politicians have already promised to improve health care across the country with more doctors, and tax credits for families caring for ill relatives.

The dead on arrival budget pitched by the Conservatives this week included a clause that would offer some forgiveness of student loans to doctors willing to work in rural areas after the NDP demanded an increase in the number of doctors and nurses.

Meanwhile, the Liberals proposed a family care plan with a proposal that would add six months of employment insurance — instead of the current six-week coverage — to workers staying at home to care for a sick family member.

Trustworthiness — an issue the Liberals hope to highlight — was cited as the top issue by seven per cent of those asked, while the environment got support as the top issue from five per cent of those polled.

Between March 21 and March 23, 1,014 Canadian adults were interviewed online for the survey, which was weighted to bring it in line with Canadian demographics and has a margin of error of three percentage points nationally, 19 times out of 20.