Author: Dr. Loleen Berdahl
When western Canadians were asked to rate the priority of fifteen public policy issues, three issues clearly emerged as having the largest number of very high and high priority ratings: health care, the environment, and poverty. The majority of western Canadians also feels that reducing greenhouse gas emissions, investing in universities and colleges, investing in science and technology, lowering personal taxes and expanding international trade are very high or high priority areas.
While a strong majority of western Canadians believes that governments should leave the economy to the free market, western Canadians are supportive of a wide number of government activities to support the economy. This is seen in the strong support for government protection of rural economies, tax incentives for industries, and government funding of both university researchers and, more broadly, research and development. Western Canadians are divided in their opinions about high levels of foreign investment in Canada.