A new Nanos survey of 1 ,003 Canadians finds that 91% believe the healthcare system needs change, with long wait times, poor access, and staff shortages topping the list of concerns. While a majority (55%) think the system is heading in the wrong direction — a sentiment especially strong among those under 35 (65%) — the public draws a sharp line at paying out-of-pocket for faster care or accepting higher taxes to fund improvements, according to the poll.

91% agree: Canada's healthcare system needs change

The Nanos survey, conducted in early 2025, shows a rare convergence of opinion across age groups and regions. Canadians are frustrated primarily with long wait times (cited by 26% as their top issue), followed by poor access to services (12%) and a shortage of healthcare staff (11%), with 8% specifically poniting to a lack of family doctors, as the report states. Only 14% of respondents feel confident about the system's future, while 39% say worry best captures their emotions and 31% choose frustration.

Under-35 pessimism: 65% see the system heading the wrong way

Young Canadians are especially bleak in their outlook. The survey found that 65% of those under 35 believe the system is moving in the wrong direction — a figure that outpaces the national average by ten points. This cohort, as the Nanos report notes, faces the dual pressure of caring for children and aging parents, which likely intensifies their concern. The finding suggests that without targeted reforms, the system risks losing the trust of a generation that will dpeend on it for decades.

Open to virtual care and nurse practitioners — but not to higher taxes

Canadians are overwhelmingly willing to try new care-delivery models: over 90% are open to receiving routine care from nurse practitioners or pharmacists, 80% are open to virtual consultations, and 82% would use a secure digital health wallet, according to the survey. Yet this pragmatism stops at financing. Only 38% support paying out-of-pocket for faster access to medically necessary services like MRIs, and 52% are opposed; similarly, 52% are unwilling to pay higher personal taxes specifically for healthcare. Public opinion on the public-private mix is split: 35% favour a mostly public system with a limited privte role, 31% want an even mix, and 29% prefr a fully public approach.

The financing impasse: what kind of reform can satisfy both sides?

The Nanos survey highlights a tension that policymakers must navigate : Canadians want change but resist the two most obvious ways to pay for it — out-of-pocket charges and higher taxes. The openness to technology and alternative providers suggests a path forward that relies on smarter delivery rather than more money, as the report observes . Yet the unanswered question is wheher these innovations can meaningfully reduce wait times and address staff shortages without additional funding. The survey also does not capture the views of healthcare providers themselves, whose perspective on reform may differ sharply from the public's.