Most Canadians say economy needs fundamental changes: report of COVID-19 priorities

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — More than six months into the pandemic, many Canadians say the economy isn’t working the way it should, according to a survey.

A Better Canada: Values and Priorities after COVID-19 report found 44 per cent of Canadians think the way the economy works needs to be changed, and many people want more climate action.

The report from the Environics Institute and Vancity surveyed 3,008 Canadians online between Aug. 17 and 24.

“There is a big appetite among the public for change,” Andrew Parkin, with Environics Institute, says. “They want to see the economy work better, they want to address inequality between rich and poor, they would like to see progress on making essential medicines free through the public health care system.”

He says about one in 20 people believe everything is fine the way it is.

“One of the things I found interesting is that even among those who are the highest income earners, fewer than one in 10 think the economy is fine the way it is.”

And when it comes to the environment, there is a lot of support for investing in clean energy technologies.

“They want to kickstart the economy by investing in green technologies or new businesses that can promote both the environment and growth at the same time,” Parkin says.

Even if it slows down economic development, the survey found three in four Canadians want the environment to be protected in the country. Eighty-four per cent also say it’s important for corporations to have policies and programs in place to protect the environment.

According to the report, almost all parents agree Canada should be a country where affordable and high-quality daycare for young children is available to all who need it.

Read the full report:

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