McLellan will pay high price if she ignores privatization in health, says poll

Gil McGowan, AFL Staff

EDMONTON – Federal health minister Anne McLellan will pay a high price politically if she doesn’t do more to stop the trend towards privatization in health care, says a new poll of people living in her home riding.

The survey was commissioned by the Friends of Medicare and conducted in mid-February by Viewpoints Research.

The poll shows that 69 percent of Edmonton West residents want the federal government to ensure that tax dollars are not spent on services provided by for-profit companies.

The survey also showed that 63 percent of riding residents would either be less likely or a lot less likely to vote for McLellan in the next election if she turns a blind eye to provinces – like Alberta – that want to open the door to for-profit delivery in the health system.

Even among voters who identified themselves as McLellan supporters, a clear majority said they might abandon her in the next election if she does nothing to address the issues of privatization and for-profit delivery.

"Anne McLellan and Jean Chretien should be very concerned by the results of this poll," said Friends of Medicare spokesperson Christine Burdett. McLellan won her seat in Edmonton West by less than 700 votes in the last federal election.

"So far, the premiers and the federal government have been focusing almost exclusively on the issues of money and jurisdiction. But this survey is what people really want – a guarantee that health services will remain publicly funded and publicly delivered."