The Ford government may want to pay close attention to the latest survey by Angus Reid as it explores options to improve healthcare.
Health Minister Sylvia Jones found herself at the centre of controversy this past summer when she suggested “everything was on the table” to fix healthcare. However, Ontarians might not have the stomach for more private options.
The survey said 57 per cent of Ontario residents opposed the introduction of greater privatization. Less than one in three agreed it would help the ailing healthcare system.
At the same time, 58 per cent of Ontarians rated the quality of healthcare in their community as either poor or in crisis. Only five per cent across the province called it very good.
Men were more likely to support privatizing some services, 38 per cent compared to 26 per cent of women.
Those who made the least each year were the most pessimistic about privatization. Fifty-four per cent said it would only make the situation worse.
At the other end of the spectrum, those who make the most were evenly split, with 46 per cent saying it will exacerbate problems and 45 per cent saying it will improve healthcare.
As for what’s at the heart of healthcare’s woes, Canadians agree that staffing shortages, surgical wait times, wait times in emergency departments, and the lack of doctors was to blame.
A survey released last week by the same pollster said a significant number of Canadians do not have access to a primary caregiver.
As for who Canadians hold responsible for the poor quality of healthcare in their community, almost half blame the provincial and federal governments equally. Another 37 per cent assign more blame to their province.
Angus Reid interviewed 2,279 Canadians between August 8 and 10. The poll’s margin of error is +/- two percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
