Is there consensus among Canadians about the state's responsibility for health care and education? An analysis of the 1996 ISSP survey

Abstract

This study intended to discover whether there was consensus among Canadians about the state's responsibility for health care and education from an analysis of the 1996 International Social Survey Programme, Role of Government. The weighted sample size was 1239. Ornstein's and Stevenson's 1977--81 study was also partially replicated. Results showed that welfare state retrenchment in health care and education during the '90s and state ruling by coercion led to dissent among Canadians about government intervention in health care and education. Drawn upon the competing region-class struggle theories, findings indicated that high public support for government intervention in health care was an interaction of regional---Prairie and Alberta---and class struggle---lower, working and middle classes, differences. Quebec showed the lowest increase in support for government role in health care over time. Women favoured much greater government role in health care than men. Younger and low-income people were more favourable to government intervention in education.