Canada is controlled by the unions. The unionized medicare functions just like the old socialist Russian system. It's big talk, it's there, but you die in line. All the unions care about is the money from membership dues.

If you want prompt medical attention you go to the Big Bad USA, like the Canadian politicians. The most recent one I know of was last week. A friend of mine from the NWT went to the USA for a prostate rather than take a chance on dying for union jobs. One of my workers has been waiting for a year for a hip operation. Another friend is dying of cancer because he waited in line. I told him when I need care I don't have the money either. If someone was to walk in to the hospital with a gun, you jump to the head of the line. The unions treat people like numbers, it's like they are robbing the bank. You have to be a robber to bypass the union thugs. Ordinary people are being pushed around by the union thugs that are on to a good thing for themselves.

This sickens me.The first thing that has to happen is we have to stop buying into government spin and retoric.Conversation on Health Care? For what? WE ALREADY KNOW WHAT'S WRONG!So do they.All the blah,blah,blah,by Gordon Campbell doesn't change the fact that our medical system is a mess.(and I voted for this phoney)It is totalled.He is a master of spin.We need to come to terms with the fact that the Liberals will not fix health care because they won't spend the money that taxpayers give them to do that.One of the most affected areas is senior care.A disaster to say the least.Do they care about seniors or chronic long term care patients? No,they don't.Expendable people perhaps? Not worth spending long term money on them? And wait times and over loading are getting worse.We have all heard and seen the horror stories about beds in hallways,lack of MRI availability,doctor and nurse burnout,on and on and on.And they ARE all true.But if you listen to our good friend George Abbott or Gordon Campbell, it almost sounds like it is our own fault and gee,it isn't really that bad.Well it is that bad.The arrogance and lack of action is sickening.Talk to doctors and nurses.They know the truth.Always money for everything else.Olympics and all the gross expenditures while people are lying in hallways for hours.(ya gotta love that new countdown clock eh?..how much?)raises for useless butt kissing politicians who do little to earn their money except do what Gordon Campbell tells them to do and say.(or Steven Harper)Not a set of cajone's among them.
Angry? Your damn right I am angry.But I am angry at us too for accepting this crap from our ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES.Are we so busy and happy with our lives that we can continue to ignore what is happening here? There ARE solutions, and if private care figures into it,so be it.Some user fees? Ok to that too.There are no more options.And we had all better remember that we will all get to the point sooner of later when we will need to rely on this medical system.Period.If it is about money,then spend it.Now.But most of all we need to stand up and say NO MORE bull and spin.We need action.Tell us what you will do to fix this.And not a year from now.It is our government,we elected them, and it is their job to damn well listen.Or they should be gone.We all have the right to better health care.All the "Converstions on Health Care" will not change a thing until we finally make them listen.They will only delay what is inevitable.But then,that is what a "Converstion on Health Care" is supposed to do.A smoke screen.We are just not supposed to figure that out.Winning or losing is the only thing these guys understand.And very very angry taxpayers.

"Profit" is a dirty word. Use it at your leasure whenever needed. How about the word "incentive"? Keeps people breathing to stay alive AND makes the world go around, too.

What I don't understand is why we don't tell the truth and say the entire healthcare system is a for-profit system.

Who builds the hospital? Private, for-profit design and construction companies.

Who supplies the beds? Private, for-profit bed supply companies.

Who supplies the medical and surgical equipment? Private, for-profit medical supply companies.

Who supplies the IT systems? Private, for-profit computer companies.

Who supplies the drugs, both name-brand and generic? Private, for-profit pharmasutical companies.

Who supplies the janitorial and disinfection products? Private, for-profit janitorial supply companies.

What exactly is a doctor's medical practice? A private, for-profit company.

Follow the money, people. The entire system is a for-profit system. Everyone takes their cut.

Once we get over fighting the stupid profit/not-for-profit war, we can move along to fixing what ails it.

And it's not lack of money. There is plenty of money. We need to spend it better. Spending better includes the concept of "incentive."

My father is the one mentioned in the above story.

My father was on a waiting list for emergency placement in a long term care facility here in town but because there are only a set number of beds available for special care persons and only so many nurses available to care for persons like my dad he would have had to wait for someone to leave or die simple as that.

I was told on numerous occassions that PG had no shortage of beds available at facilities in town by NHA and the government yet reality was that along with my dad there were 39 other long term care persons waiting for placement and every one of them was like my dad at PGRH taking up a much needed bed because there was no room at facilities.

On emergency placement my dad would have had to wait for up to 9 months for placement. Non emergency placements usually have to wait 1-3 years now you tell me if that is acceptable.

As to the first poster give your head a shake if it weren't for the unions we would be exactly like the US right now. Despite all the problems health care is still affordable. I looked into private care for my dad and to place at a facility at my cost it would've cost me $5500 per month for my dad.

It is too bad you are not better educated and probably believe what you hear from misinformed sources. Get educated before you open your mouth and maybe you would actually help instead of making ludicrist comments.

Dearth,

I know $5,500 per month is crazy expensive. But at least your dad can get treatment in the US.

It is the ultimate two-tier system; the rich get treatment and the poor wait.

(or those on Workers Comp get treated, those who aren't don't; or those who are politicians (Carole James) get treated while those who aren't don't)

Getting ill in the United States can whipe out your life savings.

Getting ill in Canada can wipe out your life.