Canadian citizens have had a mixed reaction to the Federal Government’s plans to introduce new healthcare programs. Now, a poll has gained the views of over a thousand Canadians. Their results show strong support for these programs when no tax increases are mentioned. However, support for the programs decline significantly when tax increases are suggested as a source of funding.
The various new healthcare programs put forward by the Canadian Federal Government has resulted in a mixed reaction from citizens, the media and policy experts.
After the results of an opinion poll have been made public, we are able to reach conclusions on the level of support among the Canadian public for the programs.
The results show that while Canadians do support the new programs, they become much less supportive once tax rises are mentioned as a possible source of funding [1].
The poll was commissioned by the Fraser Institute – which is a non-partisan and independent public policy think-tank [1].
The Federal Government’s Programs
Following their re-election, the Liberal Party announced a range of healthcare-based federal government programs that they have committed to implementing.
These include a dental care program that is targeted at low-income families. It is expected to cost approximately $1.7billion per year once it is fully rolled out [2].
A pharmacare program is expected to eventually cost as much as $15.3billion per year [2]. This will involve providing Canadians with access to essential prescription medications.
Finally, a $10 per day daycare program will be implemented at a predicted annual cost of $7.9billion [2]. This involves improving childcare programs.
Where will the funding come from?
Many have questioned how the government is planning on funding these programs. It seems that one potential funding source could be to increase taxes – a measure that is nearly always universally disliked.
Jake Fuss is Associate Director of Fiscal Policy Research at the Fraser Institute – the organisation that conducted the poll. Fuss spoke about possible funding sources.
“Despite the federal government’s borrow-now, pay-for-it-later approach to public programs, Canadians need to be aware that these new programs have significant costs that will have to be paid for by taxpayers eventually” – Fuss said [2].
The Poll
The poll aimed to find out how Canadians feel about the programs. 1,509 people were polled over a three-day period in April – following the announcement of the budget [1].
Participants were first asked if they supported the programs or not. Then, the respondents were asked if they would still support the programs if there was an increase in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in Canada, which would be used to fund the programs [1].
The poll found that Canadians do largely support the programs that the government are planning on putting into place. However, this support drops significantly when tax rises are mentioned as a possible funding source.
For example, the $10 a day daycare program was supported by 69% of respondents when tax rises were not mentioned. However, if a tax rise was needed to fund the programs, support dropped to 36% [1].
Moreover, 79% of Canadians support the national pharmacare program without any tax changes. However, if taxes were raised to fund the program, support dropped to 40% [1].
Finally, 72% of participants in the poll support the dental care program. But if tax rises are involved, support drops to 42% [1].
So what now?
The government needs to announce how they plan to implement the programs. It will be interesting to see how the government chooses to fund these programs.
These findings do make it clear that while Canadians do overwhelmingly support these programs, many do not support them if it involves tax rises.
The fact that even with tax rises, support for the dental care program is high, shows that the Canadian public clearly want something done with the current state of dentistry in the nation.
Fuss believes that however the programs are funded, it will eventually be funded by Canadians one way or another. He stated that “the reality of any new or expanded government program is that at some point Canadians have to pay for them, either in the form of higher taxes or less spending on other programs” [2].
Thinking points…
1) What do you think about these programs? Do you support them? It is a good idea to think about how these programs may affect you. The dental program is definitely worth thinking about. In preparation for its implementation, you should continue to have excellent oral hygiene and attend regular appointments. Consider booking an appointment now!
2) If you haven’t attended the dentist recently due to cost, you may be hoping to wait until the government implements this program before visiting a dentist. While this is understandable, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the earlier treatment takes place, the easier it is. Also, it will be a while before full rollout of the program. Therefore, we do recommend attending a check-up soon, as a dentist will be able to provide you with an update on your oral health, offer advice, and suggest treatment options if needed. Why not book now?
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We offer many services, including regular check-ups, cavity fillings and root canals.
We are also pleased to offer some cosmetic services. Here at our Calgary dental clinic, we offer treatments like tooth whitening, Invisalign™ and dental implants.
It is important for oral problems to be addressed early. Any dental problems will be identified at check-ups. This helps to prevent the problem getting worse. If and when further treatment is needed after a check-up, our patients receive a clear treatment plan that is suited to their needs.
The best way of avoiding extra treatment is to have strong oral hygiene. This includes brushing our teeth at least twice a day, flossing regularly, and getting a dental check-up at least twice a year. Avoiding sugary foods and drink and not smoking also helps.
Our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dental also follows the Alberta Dental Fee Guide. This means our prices are competitive, transparent and affordable.
We would love you to visit us here at Savanna Dental soon! You can see more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.
References
[1] Fuss, J., & Palacios, M. (2022). Polling Canadians’ Support for New Federal Government Programs. Last accessed: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/polling-canadians-support-for-new-federal-government-programs.
[2] GlobalNewswire. (2022). Fraser Institute News Release: Support for national dental care, pharmacare and $10-a-day daycare drops to 4-in-10 Canadians (or less) when tax increases are included, poll finds. Available: https://financialpost.com/globe-newswire/fraser-institute-news-release-support-for-national-dental-care-pharmacare-and-10-a-day-daycare-drops-to-4-in-10-canadians-or-less-when-tax-increases-are-included-poll-finds. Last accessed: 7th May 2022.
