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Alex Kohut

While National Newswatch does not keep an archive of external articles for longer than 6 months, we do keep all articles written by contributors who post directly to our site. Here you will find all of the contributed and linked external articles from Alex Kohut.

86% of Canadians agree that access to employer-funded virtual care helps alleviate the pressure on the public healthcare system

86% of Canadians agree that access to employer-funded virtual care helps alleviate the pressure on the public healthcare system

As federal and provincial governments continue to look for new ways to address concerns Canadians have with the current healthcare system, policy discussions have turned to the management of access to virtual care options. A leaked Health Canada memo suggests the federal government is considering intervening to prevent workplace and group benefit plans from offering virtual care coverage at no...

  • 2024-11-05
  • — spark*insights
86% of Canadians agree that access to employer-funded virtual care helps alleviate the pressure on the public healthcare system

86% of Canadians agree that access to employer-funded virtual care helps alleviate the pressure on the public healthcare system

As federal and provincial governments continue to look for new ways to address concerns Canadians have with the current healthcare system, policy discussions have turned to the management of access to virtual care options. A leaked Health Canada memo suggests the federal government is considering intervening to prevent workplace and group benefit plans from offering virtual care coverage at no...

  • 2024-11-05
  • — spark*insights
Close Race in BC as Election Day Arrives

Close Race in BC as Election Day Arrives

A new spark*insights online poll of 400 British Columbians conducted in partnership with iPolitics finds a tight race in the province as election day arrives.Among the key findings:

  • 2024-10-18
  • — spark*insights
Close Race in BC as Election Day Arrives

Close Race in BC as Election Day Arrives

A new spark*insights online poll of 400 British Columbians conducted in partnership with iPolitics finds a tight race in the province as election day arrives.Among the key findings:

  • 2024-10-18
  • — spark*insights
It's a "Summer" Olympics. Canadians wish they could be like Summer McIntosh, with swimming topping the list of Olympic ambitions

It's a "Summer" Olympics. Canadians wish they could be like Summer McIntosh, with swimming topping the list of Olympic ambitions

As the closing ceremony for Paris 2024 approaches, we asked 1,815 adult Canadians about their own sport and Olympic dreams. Here’s what we learned:

  • 2024-08-09
  • — spark*insights
It's a "Summer" Olympics. Canadians wish they could be like Summer McIntosh, with swimming topping the list of Olympic ambitions

It's a "Summer" Olympics. Canadians wish they could be like Summer McIntosh, with swimming topping the list of Olympic ambitions

As the closing ceremony for Paris 2024 approaches, we asked 1,815 adult Canadians about their own sport and Olympic dreams. Here’s what we learned:

  • 2024-08-09
  • — spark*insights
Conservatives lead by 19

Conservatives lead by 19

Liberals losing the left, right, centre right, and have only a narrow advantage on the centre left

  • 2024-06-26
  • — spark*insights
Conservatives lead by 19

Conservatives lead by 19

Liberals losing the left, right, centre right, and have only a narrow advantage on the centre left. Our survey of 2,688 Canadians (June 14th to 21st) shows a wide Conservative lead in national polling. The CPC would receive 42% support (+8 from the 2021 election) if an election were held today, well ahead of the Liberals (23%, -10) and NDP...

  • 2024-06-26
  • — spark*insights
Budget reaction: Housing plan popular, capital gains tax divides, deficit disappoints.

Budget reaction: Housing plan popular, capital gains tax divides, deficit disappoints.

New spark*insights polling shows support for some key budget policies, but low recall of budget measures among the young target audience.

  • 2024-04-25
  • — spark*insights
Budget reaction: Housing plan popular, capital gains tax divides, deficit disappoints.

Budget reaction: Housing plan popular, capital gains tax divides, deficit disappoints.

New spark*insights polling shows support for some key budget policies, but low recall of budget measures among the young target audience.

  • 2024-04-25
  • — spark*insights
Budget reaction: most think they will pay more, and only 1 in 10 think they will benefit.

Budget reaction: most think they will pay more, and only 1 in 10 think they will benefit.

Our public opinion research surrounding the federal budget reveals the Liberals face challenges in convincing Canadians they are on the right track with their latest budget. These findings are based on a national online survey of 2132 adult Canadians, conducted online, between the dates April 18-22, 2024.

  • 2024-04-23
  • — spark*insights
Budget reaction: most think they will pay more, and only 1 in 10 think they will benefit.

Budget reaction: most think they will pay more, and only 1 in 10 think they will benefit.

spark*insights post-Budget research shows Canadians are worried the 2024 Budget will cost them more.

  • 2024-04-23
  • — spark*insights
Capital gains tax dominates Budget Day conversation

Capital gains tax dominates Budget Day conversation

One day after the speeches have been made, what have Canadians noticed about the federal Budget?Data from Google Trends measuring search interest in budget policies from across the country suggests the changes to the capital gains tax were the highest profile item announced on Budget Day, far above any other policy measure

  • 2024-04-17
  • — spark*insights
What You Need to Know About the Upcoming New Brunswick Election

What You Need to Know About the Upcoming New Brunswick Election

Close elections have been a trademark of New Brunswick politics for the last decade, and all early signs for the election scheduled for October 21, 2024 suggest another tightly fought race with drama to spare.

  • 2024-03-20
  • — spark*insights
What You Need to Know About the Upcoming New Brunswick Election

What You Need to Know About the Upcoming New Brunswick Election

A deeply divided electorate in New Brunswick is likely to result in the closest provincial election of 2024.Close elections have been a trademark of New Brunswick politics for the last decade, and all early signs for the election scheduled for October 21, 2024 suggest another tightly fought race with drama to spare.

  • 2024-03-20
  • — spark*insights
83% feel Brian Mulroney did a good job as Prime Minister

83% feel Brian Mulroney did a good job as Prime Minister

Brian Mulroney, the 18th Prime Minister of Canada, held that office from September 1984 to June of 1993. During that time, he launched several major initiatives, some of which were controversial at the time.

  • 2024-03-19
  • — spark*insights
83% feel Brian Mulroney did a good job as Prime Minister

83% feel Brian Mulroney did a good job as Prime Minister

Brian Mulroney, the 18th Prime Minister of Canada, held that office from September 1984 to June of 1993. During that time, he launched several major initiatives, some of which were controversial at the time.

  • 2024-03-19
  • — spark*insights
What's in a Word? Plenty

What's in a Word? Plenty

In our first release in a series analyzing the messaging choices made by Canadian politicians, spark*insights is looking at what each party leader said most in the House of Commons in 2023.

  • 2024-01-27
  • — spark*insights
What's in a Word? Plenty

What's in a Word? Plenty

In our first release in a series analyzing the messaging choices made by Canadian politicians, spark*insights is looking at what each party leader said most in the House of Commons in 2023. Party leaders are notorious for remaining “on message” in the House of Commons, but what is the message they are trying to communicate the most? Examining Hansard for...

  • 2024-01-27
  • — spark*insights
Millions of Canadians use - and like - music streaming services

Millions of Canadians use - and like - music streaming services

Two-thirds of Canadians are using audio streaming services, and these users tend to be satisfied with their streaming experience.

  • 2024-01-23
  • — spark*insights
3 in 4 Canadians want the CBC – just not “as is”

3 in 4 Canadians want the CBC – just not “as is”

Our latest survey results show that most Canadians don’t want to see the CBC shut down, but fewer than half think it is fine the way it is today. We offered respondents a choice between three alternative opinions about the CBC (“which of these is closer to your view of the CBC”): It’s important and should continue doing what it’s...

  • 2024-01-11
  • — spark*insights
3 in 4 Canadians want the CBC – just not “as is”

3 in 4 Canadians want the CBC – just not “as is”

Our latest survey results show that most Canadians don’t want to see the CBC shut down, but fewer than half think it is fine the way it is today. We offered respondents a choice between three alternative opinions about the CBC (“which of these is closer to your view of the CBC”): It’s important and should continue doing what it’s...

  • 2024-01-11
  • — spark*insights
Trump would lose Canada, but not by as much as you might think

Trump would lose Canada, but not by as much as you might think

Our latest survey results show that if Canadians were voting in the US Presidential election, and the two nominees were Donald Trump and Joe Biden, the Democrat would win by a wide margin. However, 33% support for Trump is higher than has generally been seen in Canadian polls in the past, and suggests that Biden has struggled to maintain popularity...

  • 2024-01-10
  • — spark*insights
Trump would lose Canada, but not by as much as you might think

Trump would lose Canada, but not by as much as you might think

Our latest spark*insights research shows if Canadians were voting in the US Presidential election, Trump would lose, but by a lower margin than you might think.

  • 2024-01-10
  • — spark*insights
Is climate worry turning into climate despair?

Is climate worry turning into climate despair?

We offered respondents a choice between three views about climate change: in the end, the world will come together, find ways to change and avoid a catastrophe; the world won’t be able to come together and there will be a catastrophe; climate change is not a problem to be worried about. Here’s what we found:

  • 2024-01-09
  • — spark*insights
Is climate worry turning into climate despair?

Is climate worry turning into climate despair?

We offered respondents a choice between three views about climate change: in the end, the world will come together, find ways to change and avoid a catastrophe; the world won’t be able to come together and there will be a catastrophe; climate change is not a problem to be worried about. Here’s what we found:

  • 2024-01-09
  • — spark*insights
Inflation is by far a bigger pain point for Canadians than interest rates. And people aren’t sure we are out of the woods yet.

Inflation is by far a bigger pain point for Canadians than interest rates. And people aren’t sure we are out of the woods yet.

Our latest research shows that when it comes to what is making them feel hardship, inflation is a worse problem for far more people. These findings are based on a national online survey of 2000 adult Canadians.

  • 2023-12-06
  • — spark*insights
91% of Canadians fear AI can manipulate opinions and elections

91% of Canadians fear AI can manipulate opinions and elections

Fresh research by spark*insights reveals Canadians are divided about the benefits and drawbacks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on society, and worried about the impact on democracy. Here’s what we found:

  • 2023-11-29
  • — spark*insights
Trudeau trails Harper, Mulroney, Chretien, and Pierre Trudeau in perceived performance as Prime Minister

Trudeau trails Harper, Mulroney, Chretien, and Pierre Trudeau in perceived performance as Prime Minister

In a nationwide online survey of 2000 Canadian adults, with fieldwork during the month of October, we asked “which of these do you think has been a better Prime Minister” and offered a series of paired choices, focusing on those leaders who had served in office for a similar length of time as Justin Trudeau.

  • 2023-11-26
  • — spark*insights
Trudeau trails Harper, Mulroney, Chretien, and Pierre Trudeau in perceived performance as Prime Minister

Trudeau trails Harper, Mulroney, Chretien, and Pierre Trudeau in perceived performance as Prime Minister

In a nationwide online survey of 2000 Canadian adults, with fieldwork during the month of October, we asked “which of these do you think has been a better Prime Minister” and offered a series of paired choices, focusing on those leaders who had served in office for a similar length of time as Justin Trudeau. Among Liberal voters strong majorities...

  • 2023-11-26
  • — spark*insights
Axe the Tax?

Axe the Tax?

Conservatives say killing it will save people money, others say it’s an essential in the fight against climate change. Here’s how it lands with voters.

  • 2023-10-05
  • — spark*insights