Another poll has confirmed how smug and self-satisfied Canadians can be when were invited to gloat over our national accomplishments.

Take health care, for instance. Approximately 74 per cent of us consider universal health care to be Canadas single greatest achievement, Canadian Press reported this week as though we invented it.

An additional 20 per cent of us think the national obsession with our government health monopoly is somewhat important, in a good way. Total smug satisfaction rate: 94 per cent.

According to the poll, thats the highest level of national smuggery Canadians have for any of our national symbols and achievements, from our international reputation to our Charter of Rights and Freedoms, winning the War of 1812, the flag, passport, the monarchy, national anthem or even our economic record (which is invariably described these days as enviable.)

Coincidentally, a rather more useful study of health care was published in magazine form last week. It was the Fraser Institutes ongoing analysis of how much our free medical care actually costs. The West Coast free market think-tank keeps track of how much each Canadian family actually pays for health care as we wait in increasingly longer lines for surgery and treatment.

We know it costs a lot and were quite smug about it, as it turns out. But our national satisfaction might sag quite a bit if more Canadians realized that theyre paying through the nose for care which is not only more expensive than it is elsewhere in the world, its not as fast or as flexible. Which means its not as good.

In short, were paying more and getting less, which is nothing to be smug about.

The Fraser Institute found our health costs are rising three or four times faster than other life necessities, including food and shelter, and 1.6 times faster than our income.

The study found that a typical Canadian family of four will pay $11,401 in taxes this year for their health care. Individual care costs $3,707 per person, while care for single parent families with one or two children costs about $3,400.

The more you make, the more it costs you which is what Canadians want. But are they aware how much it costs us to pay for free care for others?

Read more:

Vander: Health care smugness