National Public Health

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"In a free and democratic society where you can spend money on gambling and alcohol and tobacco," Dr. Day said, "the state has no business preventing you and me from spending our own money on health care."

This pretty much sums up the situation. Fear of the unknown always makes people apprehensive but there is very little reason to not allow for private health care in Canada. I completely reject the nationalist tendency to argue against on the premise that public health is a "core Canadian" value. Many countries have public health and not very many of them use it as leverage for cultural purposes.

There's also the concern that if we "two-tier" the system we will move close to an American style health program where Canadians would be left out. This does not have to happen - nor do I believe Canadians would stand for it. However, it seems to me with a little enterprising vision Canadians can come up with a smart way to approach this.

But there is a problem. The government seem reluctant to take a stand and deal with the inevitable; more and more Canadians are searching for private clinics. This is all the proof one needs to know that the people are ahead of the curve on this one. Nor do I subscribe to the nationalist/socialist rhetoric from people like Mel Hurtig who seem to think that Canadians have been hoodwinked by "right-wing" Conservative think-tanks like Fraser. What a bunch of baloney.

Of course, the thought never occurs to politicians like Mr. Hurtig that perhaps the Fraser Institute is simply reflecting what Canadians already think to begin with. For many of us it's simple, we pay taxes into the system. We are grateful for this and willingly do it. However, relative to what we put in, we feel we are not getting the services in a proper and timely fashion. It simply makes no sense to wait eight hours to see a doctor for a flu or blood test. Or to wait up to two years for a surgery. In some cases, our hospitals resemble 2nd world hospitals I am told. I saw it with my own eyes. I agree. People sitting on beds in the hallways is not my idea of a compassionate health care system.

Prime Minister Harper: Step up and take a stand. It does no one any good - not the patients, the clinics or anyone else - to allow for this to operate in a vacuum in hushed up tones. This is health we are dealing with - not inter-provincial barriers where the petty provinces act like self-serving babies. Teach Canadians to stand up for ourselves without always needing to run to the government for a hand. If some Canadians want to pay for health services let them. Those who wish to not do so are free to remain in the public system. We demand the best and we are not getting it.

National public health is not a value. It's a service provided to all. By clinging to the notion that it somehow defines the Canadian identity only impedes us from making true and meaningful improvements to it.