Mistrust factor looms large as Campbell prepares to announce major health cuts and hospital closures
Just days before the Campbell government is expected to announce major health cuts, hospital closures and privatization, a new public opinion poll released by the Hospital Employees’ Union (CUPE) shows that two out of three British Columbians don’t trust the Premier with their health care.
In the McIntyre & Mustel telephone survey conducted in the last week, 65 per cent answered no when asked if they trusted the Premier to protect health care — up from 59 per cent when the same question was asked in early February.
Only 27 per cent trust the premier on health care — down from 35 per cent in February.
“The public is rapidly losing faith in the Premier’s leadership on health care issues,” says HEU secretary-business manager Chris Allnutt.
“In order to rebuild public confidence, the only option for Mr. Campbell is to significantly change his approach and give British Columbians an assurance that they will continue to have access to health care when and where they need it.
“But so far, all the signals from Victoria suggest that next week’s announcements will hurt many communities where hospitals will close and critical health services will be lost.”
The HEU/McIntyre & Mustel survey also indicates that 54 per cent of those polled think that the Campbell Liberals are heading in the wrong direction on health care policies and decisions — up from 49 per cent in December, 2001.
The telephone survey of 501 adult British Columbians was conducted April 9 to 16 and is considered accurate to within 4.5 per cent, 19 times out of 20.
- Do you trust Premier Campbell to protect public health care? Yes 26.7 % No 64.5 % DON’T KNOW 8.8 %
- In terms of health care policy and decisions, would you say the B.C. government is generally heading in the right direction or in the wrong direction? Right direction 35.3 % Wrong direction 53.7 % DON’T KNOW 11.0 %