Nanos Research Poll Shows Increase in Concern about Canadian Health Care

Health care is rising as a concern, according to a Nanos Research poll that Jane Taber commented on in Friday's Globe and Mail. More than 22 per cent of persons polled volunteered on May 3 volunteered health care as their "most important national issue of concern," an increase of 3.3 per cent since the last poll March 12. That contrast to the a drop in concern about the economy: 24.4 per cent listed that first in March, but only 18.6 did in May.

This may reflect more confidence about the economic situation, Taber notes. It also is tempting to think that the kerfuffle in Quebec about the Charest government's plans to charge user fees may have contributed. While what happens in this province frequently doesn't register on the radar of the Rest of Canada, the strong negative reaction to the idea has been reported elsewhere.

Universally accessible health care is one of the pillars of Canadian society. It must be safeguarded, and politicians who mess with it should take warning.