Nanos Policy Options Poll – Canadians overwhelmingly support universal health care; think Obama is on right track in United States

One very serious weakness of the Canadian health care system is that some people think it is free when it is costing taxpayers $120 billion per year.

[updated Fri Nov 06 21:12:33 EST 2009]

I think canadians owe a debt of gratitude to Paul Martin for his foresight and long term funding formulas to be directed to medicare.

[updated Fri Nov 06 23:25:30 EST 2009]

The Canadian Health Care System is very near and dear to our hearts and, in my opinion, it is the hallmark of a caring democracy. Our system is not perfect but it is better than our neighbour enjoys and at a lesser cost. Unfortunately, the Canadian system has an increasing appetite for dollars as health care becomes increasingly exotic demonstrating procedures never thought about 10 or 20 or 30 years ago. The health care system is essentially a "not-for-profit" insurance system funded by the user and the carrier being the government who, again, requires the same taxpayer pocket to exist. The "system" is too vulnerable to the forces who demand "more, more, more" and the carrier, the governments, appear unable or politically unwilling to lead-----after all, they want to be re-elected and to be seen as the "good guys".. In the health camp, governments avoid being proactive like the plague. For example, nobody but nobody wishes to to step into the "preventative" camp and address the "fattening" issue and the cost to all the users----that is us the taxpayer. What agency would dare say one is overweight let alone just plain fat and explain the costs to the system caused by self inflicted diabetes, etc. Would governments dare point to some of those "lumbering souls" and say that is significantly adding to the costs of health care???? How many of those grossly overweight souls have required a hip or knee replacement in our "free" system that we all have to pay for?? How about the salt content in prepared / packaged foods and the likely subsequent high blood pressure and the costs of heart attack and stroke. Have a look at Kelloggs All Bran, for example, with 11% salt and seemingly recommended as a "healthy" breakfast item for children and the old------and the carrier says nothing. Government does not wish to step on the toes of corporations that may kick in a few dollars for political campaigns. Mind you, governments have gone after big tobacco companies (who have the dollars) but only years after the fact. Our federal government is loath to tackle the asbestos industry and continues to allows export to India and the export of horrible health issues----such a conscience ! ! !

The bogeyman of the health care system is the word "two-tier". From what I understand, there are other good models of delivering health care to the populace in general, for example, Germany, France and Sweden that use a two-tier system but is the cost the same as ours or greater??? From what I understand again, Quebec supposedly has the best system of health care in Canada----how does it differ and what is the cost???? Most doctors would like to get their hands into a more lucrative system for themselves thus they are often on the television promoting private clinics citing such great opportunities for the patients and omitting the extra dollars flowing their way. At times we do not know who to believe. In British Columbia, an agency of government, the Worker's Compensation Board, side steps the "one system fits all" and uses private clinics as do some federal agencies such as the military and, I would guess, the RCMP and the penal service. This choice is seemingly not available to the general public but, at times, specialized procedures are sought in other provinces or across the border in United States-------would one be correct in describing the Canadian health care system as being a bit of a dog's breakfast in some aspects???

As with the federal governance of Canada, I believe there are built-in blocks to allowing the health care system to evolve with the times. To me, that is the most serious aspect of what is generally a good universal system.

Tied into our health care system is an ethics issue for me, anyway. As far as I am concerned I own the only body I have been issued in this life and nobody but nobody has a claim on that body. I take the best care of it I can but when I am faced with the end of life issues, I will make the decisions and not some religious zealot. We lived a block away from Sue Rodriguez and the inaction and attitude of the Government of Canada disgusted me. No way do I wish to be kept alive by tubes, machines and other medical black magic, likely in great pain, when I decide to exit and cross the River Styx and share a good laugh with Charon.

[updated Sat Nov 07 00:43:57 EST 2009]

How can I express what I wish to say about health care without writing a book or volumes of books. I can't do justice in the time and space provided here. I may just reply to Nik's questions.
Key strength question. to me is free availability to all. That's the prime concern of anyone with a health issue.
Key weakness question. lack of quick free accessibility which often incurs costs for remote peoples.
Health care system! I support 100%.
Obama Right Wrong Question. He is on the right track, but not going far enough, fast enough. All he has to do is say to every American citizen that his government will make sure that he or she will have their health problems taken care of at no cost to them and with no delay.

I think we have as good a health system as anywhere in the world. But that doesn`t mean we should rest on our laurels. It could be much better. There are things that could be corrected.
First I would make health a Federal responsibility. That may require constitutional change but so be it. I would not allow any private clinics or practices anywhere in Canada.
I would put all doctors on salary. I would make sure there are enough trained doctors, nurses and health care workers and enough hospitals to handle any emergency.

Half the money spent on health now is unnecessary and waste. A good prevention education system would reduce 30% or 40% of the cost. I would raise taxes to pay for whatever the cost may be. Don`t tell me we can`t afford it. There is plenty of money in Canada and I don`t hesitate for a moment to raise taxes to pay all the basic needs of our citizens.
One big weakness that wasn`t mention before is the Dept. of Health and their dereliction of duty. This is especially true of the Canadian Food agency. It`s unconscionable what they allow to be sold as food and the drugs they allow. Obviously they are run by agribusiness and the pharmaceuticals.
By making sure we have good nutritious, uncontaminated food and curtailment of harmful drugs would go a long way in lower health problems and the cost thereof.

I know this just scratches the surface but going into other issue and treating them in depth would take too long.

[updated Sat Nov 07 08:26:03 EST 2009]

All Canadians I am sure appreciate our single payer healthcare system. However, there is no question there are some weaknesses in the system. We need more doctors as many Canadians do not have a family doctor. Wait times for some surgeries and appointments with specialists are too long particularly if you have a serious illness or are in severe pain.

The problem is that the healthcare debate is so polarized in this country that politicians who recognize the weaknesses and want to address them are shouted down before there can be a serious debate.

That is not good for Canadians and is unfair to those that are looking for improvements.

[updated Sat Nov 07 11:30:22 EST 2009]

Wow! 90% support. What a powerful unifying principle. Yet governments routinely undermine it. So this becomes a barometer of whether or not we have a real democracy or just a facade. An electorate with 90% support for universal free health care would have the best health care system in the world, fully funded, if they lived where the people rule. So why is our democratic system not producing democratic results?

What we lack is what the Swiss have, guaranteed direct democracy. No law there can take effect until there is a waiting period to allow for citizens to gather signatures to have a referendum. Citizens can also initiate laws by initiative and remove representatives by recall. Few referendums happen in Switzerland because politicians know very well what they have to put into the laws to avoid it. It is a working democracy, and I can assure you that anything that 90% of Swiss people want, they get from their government.

[updated Sat Nov 07 15:53:08 EST 2009]

Tell me what good are the Royals and who is paying for this trip?

Calling all experts in Canada, is it time to be a Republic?

[updated Sun Nov 08 23:56:27 EST 2009]

With the 4 by-elections on tap for today, who will be the winners and loser by riding and who will score the big win over all, the Liberals, NDP or Conservative.

My view on the overall picture is that the Liberals' may well be the biggest potential losers as the party might place third or lower in all four by-elections and for a Government 'in waiting' that will be a disaster as they should be at the very least the second choice of voters in all the ridings.

On the flip side, the Conservatives have the potential to be the big winner here as they do not hold any of the seats and therefore will not lose ground there and even if they do not take any of the seats, all they have to do is poll higher than the Liberals in 3 of the 4 ridings.

By going up the three seats they might potentially win tonight, that would be a huge boost for Prime Minister Stephen Harper and would give Conservatives momentum and would put an end to the speculation in the media, that the party is dead in Quebec (outside of Montreal), and might bring the Conservatives to within four seats of an absolute majority.

If things go the Conservatives way tonight, the Liberal party will be taking a very long look at Mr. Ignatieff and his leadership and will at the very least, put to rest the nonsense that has been coming out of the Liberal party regarding an possible election now or in the near future.

Not that Jack is in the Liberal box, but because Mr. Ignatieff and his team and staff has managed to manoeuvre their own way inside his own trap.

Mr. Layton, will depending on how well the Liberals poll tonight, a poor showing by the Liberals, will in all probability allow Mr. Layton to pull his support after the EI changes go through and leave Mr. Ignatieff back to supporting the Conservatives on all matters of confidence once again or risk an early election and going to the polls as the party that forced an unnecessary election.

[updated Mon Nov 09 13:19:30 EST 2009]

With the Conservatives taking two of four ridings in the past by-elections and the Liberals polling just 10%, 13%, 14% and 21% in those ridings, the Liberal Party has announced that they will continue their drive to extinction with these scandals that are now known with great affection by the Liberals as the 'Pinocchio List'.

So here is the new updated, current and growing list of new Conservative "scandals", brought to you by the Liberals and the Liberal friendly media as a number of them did not believe that the Conservatives winning the seat from the Bloc to be front page news, who would have thought.

These scandals will hopefully be able to provide the momentum that Mr. Igantieff and the Liberals require to jump start their return to power as such news items in the past year have proven to be of extreme importance and are foremost in the minds of thoughtful Canadians and to have directly influenced their voting intention..

Of course, none of those have been able to move the Liberal numbers off their new historic lows under Mr. Ignatieff and with the Liberals now floundering about, looking for the next great scandal or scandals that will thrust them into power.

After all without any public policy, new ideas, programs, direction and their vision for Canada, what else is there for the Liberals to discuss with and engage Canadians with other than the next new "scandal?"

1) Toronto Star: Cities stuck with bill for Tory 'propaganda', 11/05/2009.

2) Toronto Star: Raitt accused of expense abuse, 11/05/2009.

3) CTV: Tories accused of not playing fair with the torch, 11/05/2009.

4) National Post: Don Martin: Liberal torch paranoia flames up, 11/05/2009.

5) Globe and Mail: Aspiring public servants must reveal views on stimulus plan, 11/04/2009.

6) Globe and Mail: Olympic mittens and 1-800-Mike-Duffy, 11/04/2009.

7) Globe and Mail: Fund us or shut us down, budget watchdog says, 11/05/2009.

8) Globe and Mail: Auditor-General sounds alarm on immigration policy, 11/04/2009.

9) CTV: NDP claims 27 new Tory senators will cost $177M, The Canadian Press, Thursday Nov. 5, 2009 1:13 PM ET.

10) CTV: Minister grilled over release of a gun registry report, Date: Thursday Nov. 5, 2009 6:57 PM ET.

11) Toronto Star: Liberals want Harper to call audit, Published On Fri Nov 6 2009.

12) Toronto Star: Why were port authority board minutes altered? Published On Fri Nov 6 2009.

13) Globe and Mail: Stimulus money favours key Tories, Heather Scoffield, and Ottawa— the Canadian Press Published on Thursday, Nov. 05, 2009 8:11PM EST.

14) Toronto Star: Critics cry foul at Tory photo ops, Published On Mon Nov 9 2009,

15) National Post: Canada should have focussed on H1N1 shot sooner: critics, Sharon Kirkey, Canwest News Service Published: Sunday, November 08, 2009.

16) National Post: Ottawa should have switched seasonal flu vaccine to H1N1, doctor says, From Canwest News Service Published: Monday, November 09, 2009.

17) Hills Times: Feds' $100-million for stimulus ads should be spent on H1N1 clinics, say opposition, By TIM NAUMETZ, Published November 9, 2009.

18) CTV: Canada can't spare H1N1 vaccine for Afghanistan: ambassador, The Canadian Press, Date: Monday Nov. 9, 2009 2:20 PM ET.

19) Toronto Star: Superjail for youth raises troubling questions, Published On Mon Nov 9 2009.

20) Globe and Mail: Fish fight in New Westminster-Coquitlam, Bill Curry Monday, November 9, 2009 10:41 AM.

21) Globe and Mail: Quebec's ‘bureaucratic virus', Kalli Anderson Special to The Globe and Mail Published on Monday, Nov. 09, 2009 6:23PM EST.

22) Montreal Gazette: Seven more dead from H1N1, Canwest News ServiceNovember 9, 2009 7:02 PM.

23) Toronto Star: Hospital VIPs get H1N1 vaccine with no regrets, November 10, 2009
BRENDAN KENNEDY AND THERESA BOYLE .

[updated Tue Nov 10 08:28:15 EST 2009]

So Thoroughly Disgusted.

That just about sums it up about the current turn of events in Quebec. Yes, it's enough to quite literally turn my stomach.

As a result, I'm going on an indefinite hiatus from blogging. See you in the spring! (Most definitely, I'll be back to keep kicking this government's ass.)

[updated Tue Nov 10 11:11:30 EST 2009]

There is an old saying.

If they are not laughing with you, then they are laughing at you and it would appear that there are a fair number of columists out there laughing at the Liberals along with a growing number of Canadians.

National Post:

"Mr. Ignatieff seems powerless to arrest a slide that makes a Conservative majority ever more likely. His over-arching problem is that when he hears the William Tell Overture, he thinks of Rossini while most other Canadians think of the Lone Ranger.."

"Then again, even Lincoln never faced the ignominy of doing worse than Stéphane Dion — a leader whose talents knew no beginnings. "

"But nothing can mask the sheer fetid awfulness of the Liberal performance."

Toronto Star:

"Michael Ignatieff has good reason to fear the federal long-gun registry. Every time Conservatives lock and load, Liberals shoot themselves in the foot."

"It got worse this week when Ignatieff and his who-are-we-now party blew off not one but two toes."

"Opposition leaders and followers need two skills. Not necessarily in this order, they must be adept at providing policy alternatives and adroit at executing political strategy. "

"Liberals, desperate as always to be all things to all voters,,, will be embarrassed, as well as divided, by the second, much louder, sound wave."

"Of course, Conservatives have nothing to fear as long as Liberals fail to offer compelling policy options or recognize that wedge issues cut both ways."

"So before the party can even think of attracting support from other parties, it must first figure out how to get its own partisans back in the fold. Monday night's by-elections show that this remains a work in progress for Ignatieff."

Globe and Mail:

"Last night was a bad night for the Liberal Party."

" To use the mandatory daily sports analogy, just because we knew the Toronto Maple Leafs would be terrible going into the season, doesn't make it any more acceptable when expectations are realized once the season begins."

"But while the Tories may be more inclined to fight a general election after results suggesting their fortunes are undimmed by the recession or the H1N1 outbreak, the returns for the Official Opposition Liberals should cool leader Michael Ignatieff's desire to trigger a national ballot."

"The Liberals were never expected to be contenders in any of Monday's four by-elections, but they failed even to make gains in three of the ridings from the party's disastrous showings in 2008."

"By contrast, the Liberals don't appear to be factors in any of the races. They are expected to do no better than a distant third."

"But rarely has the once-mighty, self-described natural governing party seemed so thoroughly out of contention."

"If you're the official Opposition, I think you'd be expected to do well in by-elections in the midst of a global economic downturn."

I will close the post with,

Late last summer, when it looked like a fall election was imminent, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and his team unveiled the party's new campaign slogan:

"We Can Do Better."

It would appear that Mr. Ignatieff has failed to heed his own advice and therefore why should Canadians heed his advice on any of the major issues facing Canada, it is no small wonder that the LIberal supporters are so frustrated.

[updated Wed Nov 11 09:14:28 EST 2009]

Ron's Miracle Anti-Depression Cure!

Do I know something about politics or what? This should make me boat loads of money: are you feeling blue? Are political events not quite up to what you may have hoped for? Are you lacking energy and the will to forge ahead politically?

If so, you need a quick pick me up. Do like I do -- take out your party membership cards and gaze intensely on them. Just what the doctor ordered to reinvigourate you and get you back in the swing of things.

Unless, of course, one of them happens to read A-D-Q-...

If that's the case, simply ask them to put you on suicide watch!

[updated Wed Nov 11 16:12:28 EST 2009]

And just when the Liberals thought it could not get any worse than what it was and is, here comes this bolt of reality that their one and only hope of stopping the Conservative agenda is soon to be a fading memory for the Liberals.

From The National Post, 11/12/2009 from Liberal apologist extraodinary, Don Martin.

"He had expected to lose big in all four, and the voters didn't disappoint, but Mr. Ignatieff clearly doesn't have a clue what to do next. "

It is enought for any Liberal follower to look at his party card and wonder why, after all Mr. Ignatieff was the prince of promise and it would appear that this promise as with all previous Liberal promises just never occurs.

"Conservative senators will inherit the top party spot in the Red Chamber in early January, and will command an absolute majority over all Liberals and the pair of remaining Progressive Conservatives next November assuming, of course, Mr. Harper doesn't get soft and appoint any non-Conservatives to the trough. As if...

So what will be the Liberals opitions.

Will Mr. Ignatieff and his new COS force an unneccessary elections or have the Liberal caucas sit on their hands as Mr. Dion had them do previously and you can take it to the bank that Mr. Layton will not allow the Liberasl out of this box any time soon.

Do nothing or force an unneccesssary elections, either way it is a win win for the Conservatives

[updated Thu Nov 12 07:26:24 EST 2009]

There are 13 areas that Ekos tracks and the Conservatives continue to lead in eleven of the thirteen, there are two of the eleven categories that the Conservatives continue to lead in, that should be of particular interest for the Liberals as they continue to trail the Conservatives with women and the university educated, two areas where the Liberals had a large percentage of that vote and if they hope to move their numbers that is where they need to go.

The Liberals have moved back in front with the U25 age group where they currently enjoy a 1.1% lead and those born outside Canada where they now lead the Conservatives 37.9% to 36.6% or 1.3%, this was the only area that the Liberals received any real movement, where they have gone from 32.9% to 37.9% from 10/29/2009.

What will be of interest is whether or not the Liberals can hold the born outside of Canada vote as the H1N1 winds down and the scare tactics from the media and Liberals diminish.

To recap the Liberals have moved in one area of thirteen and they have not picked up any voters from the Conservatives over the past 3 polls 10/29 26.8%, 11/05 26.8% and 11/12 26.6%., hardly numbers that would cause the Conservatives any concern, although the numbers must be of concern to an educated Liberal.

Male

11/12, Conservatives 40.0%, Liberal 26.2%; 11/05 Conservatives 41.4%, Liberals 25.3%; 10/29 Conservatives 43.8%, Liberals 24.0%.

Female

11/12, Conservatives 33.3%, Liberal 27.0%; 11/05 Conservatives 33.6%, Liberals 28.3%; 10/29 Conservatives 33.3%, Liberals 29.4%.

U25

11/12, Conservatives 22.7%, Liberal 23.8%; 11/05 Conservatives 25.4%, Liberals 24.9%; 10/29 Conservatives 24.1%, Liberals 23.7%.

25 - 44

11/12, Conservatives 33.9%, Liberal 24.4%; 11/05 Conservatives 31.6%, Liberals 27.7%; 10/29 Conservatives 35.7%, Liberals 24.3%.

45 - 64

11/12, Conservatives 38.2%, Liberal 28.3%; 11/05 Conservatives 39.7%, Liberals 26.8%; 10/29 Conservatives 41.0%, Liberals 27.4%.

65 +
11/12, Conservatives 47.5%, Liberal 29.3%; 11/05 Conservatives 51.2%, Liberals 26.5%; 10/29 Conservatives 47.2%, Liberals 31.8%.

University
11/12, Conservatives 33.9%, Liberal 30.9%; 11/05 Conservatives 33.4%, Liberals 32.4%; 10/29 Conservatives 36.6%, Liberals 32.1%.

College

11/12, Conservatives 25.1%, Liberal 15.5%; 11/05 Conservatives 39.5%, Liberals 24.0%; 10/29 Conservatives 40.2%, Liberals 22.8%.

High School

11/12, Conservatives 36.9%, Liberal 22.4%; 11/05 Conservatives 40.5%, Liberals 22.7%; 10/29 Conservatives 39.0%, Liberals 23.6%.

Born outside Canada.

11/12, Conservatives 36.6%, Liberal 37.9%; 11/05 Conservatives 39.5%, Liberals 34.1%; 10/29 Conservatives 39.7%, Liberals 32.9%.

English

11/12, Conservatives 41.3%, Liberal 28.7%; 11/05 Conservatives 42.9%, Liberals 28.3%; 10/29 Conservatives 42.9%, Liberals 28.3%.

French

11/12, Conservatives 21.4%, Liberal 19.7%; 11/05 Conservatives 20.0%, Liberals 22.1%; 10/29 Conservatives 20.0%, Liberals 22.1%.

[updated Thu Nov 12 15:01:15 EST 2009]

New Nanos Poll

Con: 38% (-1.8%)
Lib: 28.8% (-1.2%)
NDP: 17.9% (+1.3%)
BQ: 9.3% (+0.4%)
Grn: 5.9% (+1.3%)

The value in parentheses is the change from the last Nanos poll.

The Conservatives are pulling back a bit, as is typical after a quick gain.
Liberal weakness continues.
Very strong poll for the NDP.

This poll was completed the same day as the byelections.

[updated Fri Nov 13 20:29:34 EST 2009]