Martin's attack on Alberta

[Argus]

Paul Martin's attack on Alberta smacks of his earlier efforts to portray Harper as too American, or at least, too much like Americans, or at least, too friendly with them. The message was obvious. Stay away from him or he'll make us like those awful Americans.

Now he's doing the same with Alberta. His self righteous attack on Alberta and its health care, and the private clinics there smacks of the worst sort of hypocrisy. It also smacks of the kind of anti-West sentiment he once claimed he wanted to fight. So much for bringing the West in! Much better to attack them as "not like us".

Or does anyone believe Martin really gives a damn about private clinics? Hell, he goes to one! In Quebec! Which is the home of the greatest number of private health clinics in Canada.

So why haven't we heard a single, solitary peep of protest from him or any other Liberal about private health clinics in Quebec? Because they don't dare open their mouths for fear it will cost them votes there. Much easier to attack those evil westerners again.

"Don't vote for that horrible Harper guy! He's one of them! One of those Albertans!"

[idealisttotheend]

I believe Mr. Martin's GP is simply someone who runs a private clinic but that Mr. Martin has never attended the clinic himself.

I don't think Mr. Martin is attacking Alberta as much as Klien's secret plan for "reform." Martin never would have said anything had Klien not opened his mouth and made it so obvious that he was waiting until after the election to release the package.

[Argus]

I  believe Mr. Martin's GP is simply someone who runs a private clinic but that Mr. Martin has never attended the clinic himself.

And that makes it all right!? Martin is in full self righteous mode screaming about the evils of Alberta's private clinics. If he so despises private clinics why does he stay with a doctor who runs one? Why isn't he complaining about all the private clinics in his home province of Quebec?

[maplesyrup]

Argus.....why don't you focus your attacks on Klein. He is the one who has put Harper on the hot seat over health care - why did Klein do it?

Clean up your own Conservative back yard first, eh?

[Michael Hardner]

Argus.....why don't you focus your attacks on Klein. He is the one who has put Harper on the hot seat over health care - why did Klein do it?

I was thinking about this myself. How is it that Klein can have such political dominance in his province, yet his instincts on the federal stage seem to be... off.

[Argus]

Argus.....why don't you focus your attacks on Klein. He is the one who has put Harper on the hot seat over health care - why did Klein do it?

Ralph Klein is not in this election. Paul Martin is. It is Paul Martin's hypicisy which should be of concern to voters. It is the willingess of the Liberals to jump all over a western province while blithely ignoring the even greater private medical care offered in Quebec which should be taken into account.

This man claims he hates private medical clinics, and slams Alberta for having them, and for, he suspects, planning more. But his own doctor runs one! And he hasn't got a word of complaint about all th private clinics in his own home province of Quebec!

[maplesyrup]

Klein is an astute politician. I'm not so sure he wants Harper as PM. I wonder why.

[Hawk]

I don't think Mr. Martin is attacking Alberta as much as Klien's secret plan for "reform." Martin never would have said anything had Klien not opened his mouth and made it so obvious that he was waiting until after the election to release the package.

So your justifying the alienation of the West based on the fact the Premier of Alberta isn't releasing his 'package' till after the election? That is one damnably weak platform you have supporting you then.

As for the Paul Martin 'team' this isn't the first nor will it be that last time the Liberals have low-blowed the West, they do it to win votes out east, everyone does it... know why? Because the west is full of english 'nazis' who believe in 'evil' conservative views, so taking a chunk out of us brings them a pile of support from left-leaners in Ontario and Quebec. Not to mention we are no threat, heck even if every single person west of Ontario voted against the Liberals they could get at least a minority government.

Its pathetic =p

[maplesyrup]

What does the West have to do with anything? Klein lives in Alberta. Period.

Outside of Alberta, Klein's ideas are dead in the water.

Even a Conservative Atlantic Region premier attacked him today.

[Hawk]

What does the West have to do with anything? Klein lives in Alberta. Period.

Outside of Alberta, Klein's ideas are dead in the water.

Even a Conservative Atlantic Region premier attacked him today.

I urge you to rephrase that statement, the West is far more important than you give us credit for... heck without our provincial income half the other provinces in Canada would have to drastically cut their budgets =p

The problem is that everyone takes from the West, demanding we serve them, then they say we dont exist or we aren't important. Guess what, we are here, and we dont like being ignored =p

In regards to the Atlantic Region premier, big deal, its nothing compared with the fights going on within the Liberal party... where there are people there will be differences, simple fact of life, the difference is that Conservatives are mainly on the same page whereas Liberals are so diverse I am amazed they can even function (oh wait, they can't)

[Michael Hardner]

The problem is that everyone takes from the West, demanding we serve them, then they say we dont exist or we aren't important. Guess what, we are here, and we dont like being ignored =p

Who exactly says this ? What's with this persecution complex ?

There have been more premiers from the west in the last 40 years than there have been from Ontario, by far. The west gave us socialized medicine, the NDP, and balanced budgets. You have a bigger effect than you realize.

[Hawk]

The problem is that everyone takes from the West, demanding we serve them, then they say we dont exist or we aren't important. Guess what, we are here, and we dont like being ignored =p

Who exactly says this ? What's with this persecution complex ?

There have been more premiers from the west in the last 40 years than there have been from Ontario, by far. The west gave us socialized medicine, the NDP, and balanced budgets. You have a bigger effect than you realize.

Exactly, we ARE a big deal, we know that, the problem is most Canadians living in the East don't and so we are treated with grudging indifference because we are a bunch of hicks =p

I assure you, we are not hicks, we are the enlightened ones, we know the value of hard work, of earning your way in the world, of strong family structure, of strong social structure, and so we vote for the conservatives because while they may still be more Liberal than some of us desire they at least are more right-wing than the Liberals that are rampantly steering our country into anarchy

[Michael Hardner]

Exactly, we ARE a big deal, we know that, the problem is most Canadians living in the East don't and so we are treated with grudging indifference because we are a bunch of hicks =p

Hicks ?

I assure you, we are not hicks, we are the enlightened ones, we know the value of hard work, of earning your way in the world, of strong family structure, of strong social structure, and so we vote for the conservatives because while they may still be more Liberal than some of us desire they at least are more right-wing than the Liberals that are rampantly steering our country into anarchy

Hard work ? Do you think people who live in Ontario don't work hard ? It's tough living out here. If you live in Toronto, don't forget to add a couple of hours to your workweek for the commute.

For all those hours, you can expect to pay at least $200K for a tiny house or $1000/mo for a tiny apartment.

Yet, you don't ever hear Ontarians say they want to separate. I wonder why...

[idealisttotheend]

QUOTE

I don't think Mr. Martin is attacking Alberta as much as Klien's secret plan for "reform." Martin never would have said anything had Klien not opened his mouth and made it so obvious that he was waiting until after the election to release the package.

So your justifying the alienation of the West based on the fact the Premier of Alberta isn't releasing his 'package' till after the election? That is one damnably weak platform you have supporting you then

Whoa there. My quote says that I don't think it's an attack on Alberta at all never mind the West.

Exactly, we ARE a big deal, we know that, the problem is most Canadians living in the East don't and so we are treated with grudging indifference because we are a bunch of hicks

Says who? Who treats us like hicks? Or grudging indifference?

Not to be too vigiliant in defending the Liberals but Martin did make the Finance Minister and the deputy PM from the west. What more can you want realistically?

I assure you, we are not hicks, we are the enlightened ones, we know the value of hard work, of earning your way in the world, of strong family structure, of strong social structure, and so we vote for the conservatives because while they may still be more Liberal than some of us desire they at least are more right-wing than the Liberals that are rampantly steering our country into anarchy

People from the east also know these values and some of them vote Conservative. People in the west sometimes vote NDP, some are lazy sometimes.

Hawk your penchant for dramatics and your inferiority complex regarding the west can go too far.

[maplesyrup]

Which party do you think would best protect universal access to health care?

[caesar]

Martin has not jumped all over the west nor Alberta. Klein made that announcement that Alberta will be announcing changes after the election that may violate the Canada Health Act. For your Premier to be trying to goad Martin by breaking Federal laws. If he has any legitimate ideas; he should work within the laws and speak up so people have a say. If you Albertans don't like what he has planned; don't come crying to us.

Premiers that do not obey the regulations should have the responsibility and funding for Health Care removed and have it administered by the Federal government. The Federal government can assess them the provincial share. That includes the twerp in my province who would rather use money for the olympics than anything else.

[playfullfellow]

he should work within the laws and speak up so people have a say. If you Albertans don't like what he has planned; don't come crying to us.

What if he (Klein) feels that the health act is unjust? Why is the rest of the country scared of what Klein might pull off? What if Kleins plan works? What if he turns the system around? Will the rest of the country come crying to him saying he is unfair and fights dirty? Given Alberta nature, if it fails, we will NOT come crying to the rest of the country. Lets not call Klein scary until we at least see what his plans are. So far, most, not all of his plans have been pretty good for the province.

[Michael Hardner]

What if he (Klein) feels that the health act is unjust?

Klein's feelings aren't important. He is obliged to follow the laws of this country.

[Argus]

Which party do you think would best protect universal access to health care?

That is the wrong question. The real question is "Which party would be most likely to do something to improve the quality of health care for all Canadians?"

And clearly the answer is not the Liberals. They've been in power for 11 years, and watched health care deteriorate without doing *anything* at all. Every election they make big mouth noises about how they're the big protectors of health care. Then afterwards they forget about it.

The NDP? It was a telling moment in the debate when Layton was challenged to say just what plan he had other than "just throwing more money" at the problem. He dodged the question. Clearly, he has no answers.

That leaves the Conservatives. Maybe they can improve health care. Maybe not. But I don't see any other alternatives right now.

People who say they want to dismantle the health care system obviously must think they don't care about getting re-elected - which is dopy. Or else think that Canadians would re-elect them if they destroyed the health care system - which is even dopier.

[Argus]

Martin has not jumped all over the west nor Alberta.  Klein made that announcement that Alberta will be announcing changes after the election that may violate the Canada Health Act.  For your Premier to be trying to goad Martin by breaking Federal laws.  If he has any legitimate ideas; he should work within the laws  and speak up so people have a say.

Martin is a lying weasel who has used Alberta as a target, just as Chretien's government did before, attacking them over private health while keeping silent about Quebec's own private health clinics. For Martin to go all self righteous about Alberta's private health care system while his own doctor runs a private clinic demonstrates what a hypocrite he is, and how little he cares about health care.

As for (within the law), the law is bullshit. It seems to have been written in Cuba by anti-capitalist Communists. God knows, the only other countries which have that law are Cuba and North Korea. That law, if it stays in effect, will destroy health care as the boomers get older.

Premiers that do not obey the regulations should have the responsibility and funding for Health Care removed and have it administered by the Federal government.  The Federal government can assess them the provincial share.

People on the left are always so willing to force people to do what they want. The first sign of resistance and you want a putsch to take over. No doubt you'd then want all the conservatives thrown into re-education camps.

Your demand Alberta respect the Canada Health Act while then suggesting the federal government has no reason to do the same strikes me as more than a little wierd. Under the act health care is a provincial responsibility. There is NOTHING the federal government can do about what Alberta decides to do except withhold federal money. However, under the Liberals, the federal share of health has continued to diminish. I think it's only in the teens now, about 15% or something. Alberta might be willing to risk that in order to provide better health care.