EDMONTON: On the eve of Premier Klein delivering a speech on health care in Calgary, the Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) released survey results showing 82% of its supporters believe a parallel private health care system should co-exist alongside the public one. Another survey question reveals that CTF supporters consider the quality and the timeliness of health care as the two most important ingredients in a health care system.

The most recent ranking of health care systems by the World Health Organization (WHO) puts Canada's health care system as 30th in the world, behind Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Greece, France, Germany, the U.K., the Netherlands, Australia and other countries. These countries allow private health care to co-exist alongside their public systems.

2004-05 CTF supporter survey

Do you support a parallel private medical system to coexist alongside the public one

50% support strongly
32% support somewhat
6% oppose somewhat
6% oppose strongly
4% undecided/no response


2004-05 CTF supporter survey

Which element or ingredient is most important to you in a health care system

28% timeliness of care (less waiting for treatment)
26% quality
16% universality (available to all regardless of income)
11% accessibility
7% cost effectiveness
6% portability (available everywhere)
3% choice (of physician, treatment)
2% publicly administered
1% comprehensiveness

"People should be free to spend their own money for more or better health care," stated CTF-Alberta director John Carpay.

"Premier Klein should end the government's health care monopoly and allow a parallel private health care system to develop," added Carpay.

"Health care is provincial jurisdiction under Canada's constitution. Alberta is in a strong position to push for health care reform, and assume its traditional role as a pioneer in public policy," concluded Carpay.