A healthy people

	Skate skiers in Gatineau Park, Que. Photo: Jo-Ann Holden

The Canadian Community Health Survey collects information about the health of Canadians. In a self-assessment, the majority of Canadians surveyed in 2000/01 said their health was very good or excellent. Only 12% reported fair or poor health.

Quebec residents had the highest level, with 28% citing excellent health. Only 20% of people in Nova Scotia said their health was excellent.

The National Population Health Survey examines changes in the health of the population. In 1994/95, the survey was first conducted with Canadians aged 12 and over. Of those who rated their health as good, very good or excellent that year, 86.0% rated it the same in 1996/97 compared to 85.6% in 1998/99 and 84.0% in 2000/01.

Over 79% of those same respondents rated their health the same way in all years sampled. Only 1.9% of all respondents rated their health as poor or fair in all four sample years.