Ruling may kill Canada Health Act, Romanow says

[CHIMO]

OTTAWA — Roy Romanow says last week's Supreme Court ruling on private health insurance in Quebec may kill the Canada Health Act, the legal foundation of medicare.

The former Saskatchewan premier, who headed the 2002 royal commission on health care, has sharply stepped up his criticism of the ruling since it was first brought down.

Last week he said the verdict would not have a major impact, but since then, he said, he has read it twice.

He now calls the ruling "confusing, contradictory and in many ways just not consistent with any of the evidence — in fact, it's based on no evidence."

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_PrintFriendly&c=Article&cid=1118958613379&call_pageid=968332188492

A clear call for the not withstanding if Martin is to follow-up on his statement right after the ruling. A time for the NDP to require another stand by the Liberals for their support before Parliament takes their summer recess.
Start the election now. There is a clear issue and one that no one else can carry.

[applegrove]

1. Perfect. The next election will have to be on health care. You know...

about important domestic issues. Instead of some scandal that the Tories will try to dredge up. Then we can have a clarification through some new law.

Though I am sad to hear that it is scary to Romanov.

[SixStrings]

2. C'mon now...

That was the Liberal's entire campaign last election - make Harper out to be a boogey man with a 'hidden agenda'. What, supposedly, was that hidden agenda? Martin, at every opportunity, was saying that electing Harper would equal the end of public healthcare - a US style system was on the horizon. Well, look what happenned?
Would Harper be given this free ride? Why does party loyalty always trump common sense and the truth?

[applegrove]

3. hm? Health Care was on the agenda because it is the top issue

and worry for all Canadians. As are domestic issues.

Did you not hear that the Fraser Institute with Mike Harris and the last leader of the Reform party came out with a 5 part plan where all Canadians are supposed to think local (not federally) and where taxes need to be lowered to almost nothing and where health care needs to be privatized right away?

You didn't hear that? They had a press conference. I'll look for it if you want.

Just as Harper was about to make the government fall on the Gomery issues - out comes David Fromm with a long piece of propaganda about how Canadians should be very, very afraid of take-over by the USA. Why? Propaganda to drive a wedge between the Liberals and the NDP at a time when the two of them coming together was the only thing that could stop Harper making the government fall. Obviously the Liberals are a little bit more pragmatic that the average NDPer when it comes to the USA and fear of being taken over. What an obvious attempt from the USA propaganda machine to influence the outcome of the budget vote. If the Americans know it has to be an election on something other than domestic issues and the welfare of fairness of Canadian social programs for the Harperites to win.. we should understand that.

They wanted the election on Gomery (which has little to do with the government in power today). They wanted the elections to be on anything other than domestic issues. Wedge issues and fear. Just like their neocon pals to the South.

Enjoy the bar-b-Que. I hear deep down Harper is salty. A hell of a fun person to hang with one on one. I do wonder if he will notice the smog this summer as he spends every evening with small groups of Canadians - outside. :hi:

[SixStrings]

4. I am not defending Harper...

By no means. I just think it's ironic that under
the Federal Liberals, our healthcare is STILL moving towards a US system - something they promised would never happen.


"Did you not hear that the Fraser Institute with Mike Harris and the last leader of the Reform party came out with a 5 part plan where all Canadians are supposed to think local (not federally) and where taxes need to be lowered to almost nothing and where health care needs to be privatized right away?"

And that's a bad thing? - I believe we should 'think local' when it comes to healthcare and tax dollars. We just can't trust this or any federal gov't when it comes to doling out our tax dollars. Keep things on a provincial or county level and you'll see where your money goes, ie. roads, local hospitals, police, etc. But maybe that's a little naive?
Under no circumstances should our healthcare become a 'for profit' system. This is the essence of being Canadian, IMO. The fundamental right of every citizen to recieve timely and effective healthcare, regardless of socio/economic factors. This attitude and social environment truly sets us apart from our US friends.

"Just as Harper was about to make the government fall on the Gomery issues - out comes David Fromm with a long piece of propaganda about how Canadians should be very, very afraid of take-over by the USA."

And you're not afraid of the US? The economic turmoil they can launch upon us would be devastating. We are far too reliant on US markets. Look at the mad cow issues, softwood lumber, etc. The US does not play fair. When the US gov't will subsidize their farmers' income by as much as 80% - in order to sell at the lowest possible price - thereby undercutting Canadian producers, we don't stand a chance. And they call us a 'Socialist' nation?