To the Editor:
Canadians are looking for leadership from the federal government to build our national health care system, rather than tear it down, a new poll from Abacus Data, commissioned by the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions shows.
The poll, which was released June 2, by the CFNU during its biennial convention in Halifax, shows that as Canada’s population ages, the future of health care is increasing in importance to voters, with 58 per cent of voting-age respondents now placing health care among their top three issues.
The survey revealed: Health care is more important to voters than taxes - 58 per cent of respondents said health care was among the top three issues that could determine how they vote, compared with 44 per cent who included taxes; Overwhelming numbers of Canadians trust nurses to know what patients need most, 77 per cent of respondents would consider supporting a party that would set national standards for continuing care; Close to two thirds of respondents would support a political party committed to negotiating a new health agreement between Ottawa and the provinces and committed to annual funding increases.
“Canadians want to see federal leadership that builds, rather than limits, our health care system,” said CFNU president Linda Silas. “We are challenging federal leaders to step up and demonstrate their commitment to public funding and distribution of the health care services Canadians depend upon.
“There is no public service that matters more to people than health care services,” said pollster Bruce Anderson, chair of Abacus Data, which conducted the survey of 1,500 Canadians between May 4 and May 6, 2015.
The margin of error is plus or minus 2.6 per cent.
Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions
