2026-10-29 from iwc-cti.ca
A new poll exposes the deepening healthcare crisis in Canada, particularly in Quebec, where long wait times are pushing patients away from doctors and hospitals. The solution is not privatization, but greater public investment, more healthcare workers, and better services for everyone.
Access to healthcare in Canada is no longer guaranteed when people need it. For thousands of workers, families, and seniors, seeing a doctor can mean spending long hours in emergency rooms or waiting weeks, sometimes months, for an appointment. In some cases, delaying treatment becomes the only option for people who cannot afford to wait or lose a day’s wages.
A new Léger poll, published on October 29, 2026, reveals that half of respondents in Canada have avoided seeking medical care because of long wait times. The proportion was highest among women, older people, and Quebec residents.
Even more revealing, 84% of respondents believe the healthcare system needs to change. This is a clear warning that the crisis is no longer simply an administrative problem. It is undermining people’s fundamental right to healthcare.
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