Canadian federal politics was turned upside down in the last election as many younger Canadians shifted to support the Conservative Party, while a large segment of seniors sidestepped to the Liberals. Pundits and experts have discussed the change at length.
But something that has received less attention is: How to earn the support of those swing voters come the next election? When it comes to the seniors’ vote, health reform could be the answer.
Veteran political strategists and observers might scoff at this idea, recalling the old adage that health reform is the “third rail of Canadian politics”—touch it and you’ll get zapped. Conservatives, especially, have been fearful of the issue and the inevitable claims that they want to “Americanize the health system.”
But if there is one thing you remember from this column, this is it: public sentiment has shifted when it comes to openness toward health reform. This is not the debate it was 25 years ago. Dozens of public opinion polls show the public is ready for reform—it is the politicians that have yet to catch up to this new reality and opportunity.
Many readers will note that an entire federal election just passed and health care received scant attention. This despite there being policy options for Ottawa to pursue, even though health care is often thought of as a provincial issue.
To recap, the health system is in crisis right now. Government data shows thousands of patients are dying each year on waiting lists for various services—everything from MRI scans and hip operations to heart operations and cancer treatment. Millions of Canadians don’t have family doctors, and many emergency rooms have been closing due to a lack of staff.
Over the next few years, Canadians should expect the collapse to continue. Canada’s aging population will have a much greater impact than the handful of positive reforms we’re seeing in different parts of the country.
Polls show seniors care more about this issue than the rest of society. Unsurprising, given that, as an age cohort, they tend to use the health-care system more frequently and for more complex services.
Consider that 64 percent of Canadians agree with the sentiment that the health system needs a “major change.” According to the 2024 Leger poll, seniors were above the national average, while the lowest level of support came from those in the 18-34 category (still a majority at 58 percent). What’s interesting is that only 5 percent of Canadians indicated “more public funding” was the solution. The rest either felt the system needed “minor changes” or didn’t know.
Health reform is, of course, a vague concept, but what’s encouraging is that polls show the public is on board with some pretty common-sense changes.
