The overwhelming majority of CEO and business leader respondents in the weekly COMPAS/FP poll believe that the Supreme Court’s decision to allow private healthcare services in Quebec was excellent. Most feel that it was overdue. Even while embracing the decision, a sizeable number—about half—feel that the Court was over-reaching, poaching on policy-making authority that rightfully belongs to Parliament.

Respondents are almost unanimous in predicting that Montreal will become a kind of healthcare mecca. Quebec’s biggest city would end up drawing patients for health services, especially diagnostic services, from Ontario and Atlantic Canada, and perhaps even from western Canada and northern New England. The respondents themselves would urge their friends to purchase private diagnostic services rather than wait in line in the public system. Not surprisingly perhaps, most see an investment in private medicine as potentially delivering above average returns. Most panellists believe that insurance companies will ultimately be marketing policies that pay for private health services.

Quebecers will benefit not only in having new investment opportunities and easy access to private medicine, but Quebecers will also benefit because the province’s public system will improve as a result, say CEOs and business leaders. Respondents do not foresee a beneficial impact on the public systems in the rest of Canada.

In the wake of the Supreme Court decision, panellists believe that major corporations will give increasing thought to offering access to private health services as a way of attracting talent.

These are some of the key findings from this week’s web poll of business leaders and CEOs, sponsored by BDO Dunwoody LLP and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

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