Canadian economy concerns at 10-year high

Toronto -- The economy has risen to be the top concern among Canadians for the first time in 10 years, a poll published Friday said.

The Ipsos Reid telephone poll of 1,000 Canadians conducted for the Canwest News Service found 25 percent cited the country's economy as the greatest concern for the government.

Ipsos Reid has been conducting a similar poll ever two months for 20 years, and said the economy hasn't been the top concern since 1998. Most recently, it was environmental issues, which fell to second place in the most recent poll to 22 percent.

Healthcare was the third-highest ranked at 20 percent, down nine points since February, the report said.

The price of gas and oil came fourth with 12 percent expressing concern, surging up 11 points from February.

The poll had a 3.1 percent margin of error, the pollsters said.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International.