CanadaSpeaks! 2012
CanadaSpeaks! 2012
Research Canada undertakes national public opinion polls on a regular basis to provide government with data on the views of Canadians about health research in Canada. These public opinion polls demonstrate Canadians’ strong support of health research and further show that Canadians see a strong public and private role in funding health research in Canada. Canadians understand that health research improves health and creates tomorrow’s jobs. They also know that health research holds a promise for the future—possible cures and better health care for all of us.
Research Canada’s commissioned its first national public opinion survey, CanadaSpeaks! 2006, in the fall of 2006 to learn more about Canadians’ attitudes and perceptions regarding health research. Additional polls were conducted in 2007 and 2010.
On February 7, 2012, Research Canada released CanadaSpeaks! 2012, an Omnibus Poll conducted by Angus Reid Public Opinion to measure current opinions and follow-up on results from previous years.
Canadians Reject Possible Cuts to Health and Medical Research in Upcoming Federal Budget
New national poll reinforces Canadians’ resolve to stay the course in health and medical research
“CanadaSpeaks! 2012 shows that Canadians see health and medical research as an engine for economic growth,” stated Mr. Jacques Hendlisz, Chair of Research Canada. “A majority of Canadians (78%) still hold the view that health and medical research makes an important contribution to the Canadian economy: a finding similar to that from 2006.”
“Nearly half (45%) of Canadians think that federal investments in health and medical research help to create jobs for Canadians, with agreement particularly high in Alberta (56%) and Atlantic Canada (53%),” added Ms. Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, President and CEO of Research Canada. “Canadians also agree that job creation, while an important benefit of health and medical research is not necessarily the only or most significant benefit. Canadians see benefits to the Canadian economy in a variety of ways – especially with respect to increasing innovation and new technologies and strengthening the marketability of Canadian medical advances,” she added.
When asked:
Dr. Marla Shapiro, a Research Canada Board Director, was impressed with the results. “Canadians are telling us that health research is an important way out of increasing health care costs,” she stated. In fact, a majority (54%) said that health and medical research is part of the solution and not part of the problem when it comes to controlling the cost of health care in Canada.
Click here to view the full results of the CanadaSpeaks! 2012 survey.
For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Ms. Ranjana Chopra Executive Assistant to the President and CEO 613-234-5129 rchopra@rc-rc.ca
Ms. Deborah Gordon-El-Bihbety, President and CEO, Research Canada Tel: 613-234-5129 dgordon@rc-rc.ca
Key Messages
CanadaSpeaks! 2012
A strong majority of Canadians (74%) reject the idea of federal cuts to health research in the upcoming Federal Budget 2012.
Research Canada: An Alliance for Health Discovery asked Angus Reid Public Opinion to conduct a public opinion survey of 1,000 Canadian adults to gauge the importance Canadians place on health research in the context of Canada’s current economic challenges and in advance of Federal Budget 2012. The survey updates selected results from the landmark Research Canada 2006 survey.
Findings of CanadaSpeaks! 2012 include:
Funding of Health and Medical Research Should Not Be Cut in Upcoming 2012 Budget
• 74% of Canadians do not think the Government of Canada should cut spending on health and medical research in the upcoming Federal Budget 2012.
• Most Canadians think that the federal government should maintain (45%) or increase (30%) funding for health and medical research.
Health and Medical Research is an Engine for Economic Growth
• A majority of Canadians (78%) hold the view that health and medical research makes an important contribution to the Canadian economy: a finding similar to that from 2006.
• Nearly half (45%) of Canadians think that federal investments in health and medical research help to create jobs for Canadians, with agreement particularly high in Alberta (56%) and Atlantic Canada (53%).
• Canadians agree that job creation, while an important benefit of health and medical research is not necessarily the only or most significant one. Canadians see benefits to the Canadian economy in a variety of ways – especially with respect to increasing innovation and new technologies and strengthening the marketability of Canadian medical advances. When asked:
• 92% of Canadians think that health and medical research increases innovation and new technologies.
• 87% believe that health and medical research makes more health and medical advances.
• 84% of Canadians believe health and medical research creates more jobs.
Health Research is Part of the Solution in Dealing with the Cost of Health Care
• A majority of Canadians (54%) tell us that health and medical research is part of the solution and not part of the problem when it comes to controlling the cost of health care in Canada.
Research Canada: An Alliance for Health Discovery is a not-for-profit, voluntary organization that is a national voice for health research advocacy in Canada. Working for all Canadians, its membership is drawn from all sectors dedicated to increasing investments in health research, including the leading health research institutes, national health charities, hospitals, regional health authorities, universities, private industry and others.