Premiers fear collapse of health-care system (In Canada, of course. Solution? More money!)

Toronto Star ^ | February 25, 2004 | Caroline Mallan and Daniel Girard

[Timesink]

Feb. 25, 2004. 01:00 AM

Premiers fear collapse of health-care system

CAROLINE MALLAN AND DANIEL GIRARD
STAFF REPORTERS

VANCOUVER—Canada's premiers say the health-care system will begin to self-destruct by the end of the decade without both an overhaul and a cash influx from the federal Liberals.

At the end of the inaugural meeting of the Council of the Federation, the premiers demanded that Prime Minister Paul Martin increase base transfers to the provinces for health care by $2 billion in the March 23 federal budget.

They accuse the federal government of purposely understating the size of the surplus and short-changing the health-care purse year after year.

Alberta Premier Ralph Klein said his recent musings about possibly pulling his province out of the Canada Health Act, de-listing some services and forgoing federal funding has not reached the point of serious discussion.

The Premiers agreed that Ontario and British Columbia will come up with a series of research papers in advance of their next meeting in July.

The two provinces will present their findings on what is driving up the cost of health care and what long-term funding is needed.

The two provinces will also look at better ways to provide health care in remote communities.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty said in an interview that he worries that other initiatives, such as a literacy program, an agreement to break down inter-provincial barriers and plans to work together on emergency preparedness will go unnoticed in the seemingly never-ending health-care fray.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

But... But.... But.... I thought Canada's health system was the socialist superior to the U.S.'s free market system. How did this happen. </sarcasm>

[BIGZ]

Let us not forget who called Paul Frey a F--king Jew Bastard.

Socialized Medicine does not work except in the mind of liberals.

[backhoe]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1085224/posts
Mark Steyn: The Barbarian Invasions (Reviewing a movie about Canadian health care)
The Spectator [UK] ^ | February 21, 2004 | Mark Steyn
He wants his dad to go to Baltimore for treatment, but Remy roars that he’s the generation that fought passionately for socialized health care and he’s gonna stick with it even if it kills him. …

[boomop1]

We are headed for the same outcome be it hitlary or any democRat and even W.

[atomicpossum]

Okay, we all know this is Bush's fault, all we need to figure out is.....how?

[uncbob]

Well Greenspan said today the SS is going Kaput

[KevinDavis]

Which is good new to me.

[uncbob]

Not really

SS goes down the train ALL pension schemes will

They are all predicated on more coming in then going out

HINT

Those banks etc DON't have the money in hand to pay out to people who will be using it for retirement at any given time

All these schemes are dependent on a greatly expanding population witha lot more workers than retirees

[gcruse]

Guns or Band-Aids?

[ExSES]

All these schemes are dependent on a greatly expanding population with a lot more workers than retirees

That was the original concept... now, the schemes will merely employ "smoke and mirror" actuarial assumptions supported by inflation and grossly understated CPI numbers (and thus pretend that all is well)!

[goldstategop]

Of course these morons will never dream of privatizing Canada's health care system. In fact Premier McGuinty has moved to shut down Ontario's few private hospitals. What the heck, a few billions should keep Canada Health Care afloat a few more decades!

[NorthOf45]

It is completely frustrating for us Canadaians as well. I don't know why there can't be a hybrid. Simple things like paying $20 for a visit to the Emergency room or $500 to have a baby could make a huge difference. I know it's more complicated than that, but does it have to be? Obviously the answer is yes.

[Snowyman]

In fact Premier McGuinty has moved to shut down Ontario's few private hospitals

Nope. Check your facts.

Doofus McGinty has flip flopped on his promise to stop them . New private hospitals are being built in Brampton and Ottawa and 6 others are seeking more private financing . New community owned $250 million hospital currently being built in North Bay .Six more private mri clincs have opened since last fall . Northern Ontario Medical College opening in Sudbury and Thunder Bay at Lakehead and Laurentian Universities. Only the unions are objecting ,