Almost half of residents endorse the use of SOGI-Inclusive Education, while 77% agree with the K-12 mobile phone ban.
Vancouver, BC [October 9, 2024] – The concerns of British Columbians when pondering the health care system have not varied greatly over the past year, a new Research Co. poll has found.
In the online survey of a representative provincial sample, more than two-in-five British Columbians (42%, +2 since a similar Research Co. poll conducted in November 2023) say the biggest problem facing the health care system right now is a shortage of doctors and nurses, followed by long waiting times (23%, +1) and inadequate resources and facilities (11%, +1).
Fewer British Columbians cite other concerns, such as bureaucracy and poor management (9%, -3), lack of a wider range of services for patients (4%, =), little focus on preventive care (also 4%, -2), vague legal rights of patients (2%, +1) and insufficient standards of hygiene (also 2%, +1).
Health Care
Just under half of British Columbians (49%, -6) say there are some good things in health care in the province, but some changes are required. Smaller proportions of residents hold differing views: that health care in British Columbia has so much wrong with it that we need to completely rebuild it (31%, +1) or that health care in British Columbia works well, and only minor changes are needed to make it work better (16%, +6).
About two-in-five British Columbians say they would be willing to pay out of their own pocket (41%, -5) or travel to another country to have quicker access to medical services that currently have long waiting times (39%, +1).
“Almost half of British Columbians aged 18-to-34 (49%) would consider paying for medical services,” says Mario Canseco, President of Research Co. “The proportions are lower among their counterparts aged 35-to-54 (39%) and aged 55 and over (38%).”
Child Care
More than seven-in-ten British Columbians (72%) think the provincial government should continue to invest in building a flexible child care system that costs families no more than $10 a day—a proportion that rises to 82% in Southern BC and to 80% in Vancouver Island.
Just under four-in-five British Columbians (78%)—and 90% of those aged 55 and over—agree that employers benefit from investments in child care because more parents can go to work.
Education
Some school districts in British Columbia have relied on “SOGI-Inclusive Education”, which raises awareness of and welcomes students of all sexual orientations, gender identities and family structures.
Just under half of British Columbians (49%) agree with the use of “SOGI-Inclusive Education” in the province, while 34% disagree and 16% are not sure.
Support for “SOGI-Inclusive Education” is highest among British Columbians aged 18-to-34 (61%) and residents of Metro Vancouver (52%).
More than three-in-four British Columbians (77%) agree with banning the use of mobile phones during instructional time in K-12 classrooms.
The policy is endorsed by majorities of British Columbians who voted for the BC Liberals (86%), the BC NDP (83%) or the BC Greens (78%) in the 2020 provincial election.
Methodology: Results are based on an online survey conducted from September 5 to September 7, 2024, among a representative sample of 801 adults in British Columbia. The data has been statistically weighted according to Canadian census figures for age, gender and region in British Columbia. The margin of error—which measures sample variability—is +/- 3.5 percentage points, nineteen times out of twenty.
Find our data tables here and download the press release here.
For more information on this poll, please contact:
Mario Canseco, President, Research Co.
778.929.0490
[e] mario.canseco@researchco.ca