Well, as a Canadian, eh!!! I guess I just want to say a few things.
First Nathan:
Most of the things you guys mention I do, in fact, appreciate you for. but what percentage of your gross national product is consumed by your "real" medicare? It's socialism! There's a reason that US medical facilities near our common border do such good business - when Canadians want REAL medical care, they come to the US. How many residents of the USA go to Canada when they need to have a thorn removed from their foot?Not true. There are times when the system stresses out. A couple of years ago the system's ERs got bogged down because of the flu etc. Solution - the governmnet pushed the flu shot in 2000-2001 winter and the problem subsided.
There are problems with the health care system and we Canadians can all tell our stories of a long night at the ER, but, and to me a big but, it works well. I for one have had major lung surgery. I came through with flying colours.
My father, father in law, mother and mother in law and wife (when she gave birth) have been through the health care system in a major way and came through well.
It really depends on the hosiptal as to the level of care (ie. its a local management problem). I can explain how some wards at the local hospitals suck for nursing while others are really good.
Yes, some cancer clinics, other systems and in some cases doctors pay was neglected. In 1995 our Province laid off nurses even though they knew a few years later they would need them back.
Sick Kids Hospital in Toronto (which I have been in) is world reknown and of course the heart institute in Ottawa is awesome.
Problems, yes there are problems but we don't have to worry about paying for it. And if we go to the states for treatment (which rarely happens), well it still gets paid for.
Unlike USA senior who have to come to Canada for cheaper drugs, Canadian citizen get breakes and even some have their drugs paid for.
There is still a lot of private cost involved though - ie. room upgrades etc.
Cost, well we pay for it through our taxes. If I recall Ontario's budget, health care is about 22 billion dollars this year for a population of 12 million.
We finally started paying our doctors higher salaries a few years ago too. Many of my friends who are heart, lung and other specialists are staying put.
The big problem was the system and the rest of government was stressed over a ression in the 1990s and deficit spending. Something had to give and it finally did. The last few years have seen dramatic investiments in health care.
Another myth is how liberal Canada is. Canada has actually been very conservative for the last 5 to 10 years. Taxes have dramatically (some want more) come down on the federal level (something that has just started to happen in Washington). Of course Ontario dramatically reduced taxes and so has Alberta (which is way conservative) and other Provinces like BC. Canada has also balanced its books and operates with surpluses - something the US has just started but may slip back into deficit financing this fiscal.
This has slowed what we call the "brain drain" (doctors and other professionals heading for the USA).
Another myth is how we are so liberal in issues like the environment. Fact is (sadly) the waste haulers from the USA come up here and deposit their waste in our hazardous waste sites because our laws are much more lax than most USA states. Plus, we have laid off a lot of inspectors etc.
If Commie Chris would read this he will tell you how evil our governments have been to the poor and weak and how we have treated native Canadians.
Canada has two really big cultures because of the 8 million French who live in Quebec and the English in most everywhere else. They are very different and unique.
But most live near the American border. I still say, its the American system that allows Canada to survive. Its military protects us and allows us to grow economically but many Canadians may disagree with me.
Thats all for now. I have to go to bed.
hawk