Half of Canadians believe private options would worsen the health-care system, poll finds

The August online survey of 2,279 adults from across the country found that 32 per cent believe private options would improve the ailing system, while 18 per cent weren't sure.

Half of Canadians believe the creation of new private care options would have a negative impact on the country’s health-care system, an Angus Reid Institute poll suggests.

The August online survey of 2,279 adults from across the country found that 32 per cent believe private options would improve the ailing system, while 18 per cent weren’t sure.

Angus Reid Institute president Shachi Kurl described the findings as a “softening” on both sides of the public-private debate, which was likely more polarized between 20 and 30 years ago.

“If you are someone who is a no absolute care absolutist, you’re going to be worried that it’s only 50 per cent who are thinking the same way you are,” she told Global News.

“If you’re somebody who’s maybe more open to the notion of private care, that 30 per cent maybe isn’t the number you’re looking for, but at the same time, it’s a lot higher than it might have been a generation ago.”

The findings published Monday are the third in a series from the Angus Reid Institute, which examined access to health care in Canada and the United States. In Canada, the poll has a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points, 19 times out of 20, and in the U.S., plus or minus three percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

Overall, Canadian male respondents were more likely to support privatization than women, at 38 per cent and 26 per cent respectively.

Across the political spectrum, past Conservative voters were most likely to believe private health care could offer improvements at 54 per cent, compared to 18 per cent of previous Liberal voters and 10 per cent of past New Democrat voters.