All the Ducks are in a Row

[Nocrap]

From the man who claims to be thinking strategy 24/7; Stephen Harper has certainly strategized Canadians into private healthcare, come hell or highwater. The stage is set and he is ready to put in motion his and the National Citizen’s Coalition’s agenda to scrap Medicare.

http://www.answers.com/topic/national-citizens-coalition

He appointed Two-Tier Tony Clement as Minister of Health; congratulated Quebec for their initiative to reform their healthcare system and then promised to ‘investigate’ Alberta’s attempt at privatization.

What a load of CRAP. (Conservative Reform Alliance Platform)

Anyone living in Ontario knows all about two-tier Tony Clement who has long been committed to privatizing the public health care system.

http://www.afl.org/campaigns-issues/health/health-track.cfm

He was aggressively involved in the slash and burn of Mike Harris’ Common Sense Revolution; firing nurses

and shutting down hospitals, which helped to create the current ‘wait times’ and bed shortage epidemic.

Then there’s Quebec, whose privatizing initiative was enhanced when the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favour of private health insurance. One company who benefited the most from this decision was the Power Corporation, owned by the wealthy Desmarais family (reportedly worth almost 4 billion dollars).

Forget the fact that Peter Mackay is dating Sophie Desmarais (Julie Smyth, National Post, November 26, 2005, amoung others), but the family also, through it’s four principle owners, contributed $ 20,000.00 to Harper’s party in 2005. Our PM’s congratulatory speech was just one more step to keeping his cash cows content.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...r_health_060220

This brings us to the posturing over Ralph Klein. Harper needs Klein to oppose the act; which will force a debate; and result in the opening of the road which is really a one-way street to adequate healthcare only for the rich or heavily mortgaged.

Like Clement in Ontario, it was Klein’s health care funding cuts that closed beds, wards and hospitals in Alberta, in an attempt to fight the deficit.

http://www.cupe.ca/www/arp2002calgary

Enter Health Resource Group Inc., a private, Calgary-based company, whose Board of Directors collectively control most of the private healthcare companies including: MDS Health Ventures Inc., Connaught Laboratories Limited (leading supplier of vaccines), Columbia Health Care Inc., Tokos Medical of Canada, ISG Technologies, Life Imaging Systems Inc, Kasper Medical Laboratories (who have a long-term, $88-million per year contract to operate all diagnostic laboratories in Calgary. They also own 50 per-cent of Canadian Injury Recovery Clinic in Ottawa jointly with U.S.-based Sun Healthcare Group Inc), Networc Health Care Inc. and Metropolitan Investment Corp.; along with several numbered companies and related interest groups.

And if you don’t think they are buddies of Mr. Harper:

Peter Burgener, owner of Designs Group Inc. and chief architect for HRG, donated $5,000 to Harper’s campaign on August 2, 2005. His wife, Jocelyn Burgener, was a former member of the Alberta Legislature that closed down several hospitals. HRG was ‘gifted’ space at Grace Hospital (one of the victims) to create their posh health care facility which provides services to the wealthy and Jocelyn started a non-profit organization (with money from Heritage Canada) in the same digs.

Dr. Stephen Miller; Associate Clinical Professor at the University of Calgary and Chief Medical Officer of Columbia Health Care Inc. (with 33 rehabilitation centres across Canada. He was also Co-founder of the Western Occupational Rehabilitation Centre (now owned by Columbia.) The American Columbia Health Care Inc. was charged with fraud against Medicare, Medicaid, and the military healthcare system.

http://www.nurseweek.com/features/97-9/columbia1.html

When they began their downward spiral they suffered severe losses and were eventually sold to Networc Health Care Inc of Calgary for four million dollars. Columbia’s parent company in the US was Sun Healthcare Group who have contributed more than $150,000 to the Reform Party of Canada since 1993.

http://www.uow.edu.au/arts/sts/bmartin/dis...a_over_pt2.html

http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2003/June/03_civ_386.htm

Frank W. and Jeanette King; owners of Networc Health Care Inc., who purchased Columbia after their legal battles in the US; contributed $ 10,100.00 to Harper’s Party - Frank W. King gave $5, 100 on August 19, 2005 and Jeanette $ 5,000 on the same day.

With his hands in this many pockets, do you really think that Stephen Harper is going to fight Ralph Klein, especially when the Liberals have also been taking money from private healthcare interests for years?

And finally; since lately all roads seem to lead to the PR firm Hill & Knowlton, who have had tremendous success through their connections to both the Liberal and Reform (aka CPC) parties, we find ourselves right back to David Emerson, and yet another reason why it was so important that he remain a cabinet minister, no matter what party won the election.

Dale Flood, who was special advisor to Emerson when he was Industry Minister with the Liberals, and manager of his campaign; is a director at Hill & Knowlton. His clients include not only MDS Laboratory Services, but MEI (Montreal Economic Institute). Helene Desmarais sits on the board of MEI, and it is a well known fact that the institute supports private healthcare.

Another director at Hill & Knowlton is Brian Mulroney. According to the National Post “Peter MacKay has been dating a blonde billionairess. Not Belinda Stronach -- this time it's Sophie Desmarais of the wealthy Power Corp. family....Mr. MacKay, who is deputy leader of the Conservatives, and Ms. Desmarais met at dinner at Brian and Mila Mulroney's Montreal home about a month ago. The Mulroneys played matchmaker -- Mrs. Mulroney thinks highly of Mr. MacKay and knows Ms. Desmarais.” Do you think this means that he will sit out of the healthcare debates due to conflict of interest? I guess we'll have to wait and see.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Desmarais

This can’t all be coincidence, but before I put my tinfoil hat back in it’s box, I urge you to do a bit of research, if you really want to save public healthcare. It’s not that hard to find. Simply go to the Elections Canada website and follow the money. Look for Harper’s main contributors and google a few names. These people have more money than God, and most have something to gain from at least one of Harper/Reform’s pet projects: private healthcare, soft environmental policy and increased military spending.

[August1991]

Are you suggesting that Paul desmarais "owns" the Supreme Court of Canada and that Stephen Harper can be bought for $5000?

In case you haven't noticed, Canada's health system has severe problems including the fact that about 4 million Canadians do not have a family physician and cannot find one. Link.

It is simplistic and wrong to blame one or two politicians for these problems.

[wellandboy]

Forget the fact that Peter Mackay is dating Sophie Desmarais (Julie Smyth, National Post, November 26, 2005, amoung others), but the family also, through it’s four principle owners, contributed $ 20,000.00 to Harper’s party in 2005. Our PM’s congratulatory speech was just one more step to keeping his cash cows content.

I don't have a lot time to comment on this latest conspiracy theory but I'll point out that Ms. Demarais' brother is married to France Chretien daughter of ex-PM Jean. So by your logic the Demarais off-spring attach themselves to the power players of the day in order to fufill their secret geopolitical mandate to undermine all that is Canadian or some other convoluted theory you're amassing "evidence" on.

[Nocrap]

Are you suggesting that Paul desmarais "owns" the Supreme Court of Canada and that Stephen Harper can be bought for $5000?

In case you haven't noticed, Canada's health system has severe problems including the fact that about 4 million Canadians do not have a family physician and cannot find one. Link.

It is simplistic and wrong to blame one or two politicians for these problems.

Not one or two. Many are waiting to cash in. And as for a mere $5,000.00, just follow the money and watch it add up. Powercorp - 20,000.00, Networc - 10,100.00 Human Resources Inc. thousands when you follow the money. And no, I'm not suggesting that the Supreme Court can be bought but it had to BE CHALLENGED just as Ralph Klein has TO CHALLENGE the Canada Health Act. They must already know what elements will not stand up to a forensic examination.

I agree that there are problems with our current healthcare system, which have not been helped with the likes of Clement and Klein; but rather than try to fix them; they prefer to sell them; despite the fact that private health services have proven to be far more expensive and far less effective. After all, the bottom line is their line; and the human element is rarely a factor.

[Leader Circle]

This awfully sounds like someone we all know and is banned from this forum.

Using CRAP. Anyone remember that doofus?

THELIBERAL

or ScottBrison

Both of these idiots like to use the CRAP moniker for CPC.

Here we go again.

One of the rules of this forum is for posters to not bash the parties with name calling. You come out with an apologetic post, then you pull this shit, why don't you go somewhere else?

The sky may be falling in your pathetic little world, but we don't need to hear it here.

Go away.

[Nocrap]

Are you suggesting that Paul desmarais "owns" the Supreme Court of Canada and that Stephen Harper can be bought for $5000?

In case you haven't noticed, Canada's health system has severe problems including the fact that about 4 million Canadians do not have a family physician and cannot find one. Link.

It is simplistic and wrong to blame one or two politicians for these problems.

Not one or two. Many are waiting to cash in. And as for a mere $5,000.00, just follow the money and watch it add up. Powercorp - 20,000.00, Networc - 10,100.00 Human Resources Inc. thousands when you follow the money. And no, I'm not suggesting that the Supreme Court can be bought but it had to BE CHALLENGED just as Ralph Klein has TO CHALLENGE the Canada Health Act. They must already know what elements will not stand up to a forensic examination.

I agree that there are problems with our current healthcare system, which have not been helped with the likes of Clement and Klein; but rather than try to fix them; they prefer to sell them; despite the fact that private health services have proven to be far more expensive and far less effective. After all, the bottom line is their line; and the human element is rarely a factor.

Oops! That should have read: "the bottom line is their bottom line...".

[Nocrap]

Are you suggesting that Paul desmarais "owns" the Supreme Court of Canada and that Stephen Harper can be bought for $5000?

In case you haven't noticed, Canada's health system has severe problems including the fact that about 4 million Canadians do not have a family physician and cannot find one. Link.

It is simplistic and wrong to blame one or two politicians for these problems.

Not one or two. Many are waiting to cash in. And as for a mere $5,000.00, just follow the money and watch it add up. Powercorp - 20,000.00, Networc - 10,100.00 Human Resources Inc. thousands when you follow the money. And no, I'm not suggesting that the Supreme Court can be bought but it had to BE CHALLENGED just as Ralph Klein has TO CHALLENGE the Canada Health Act. They must already know what elements will not stand up to a forensic examination.

I agree that there are problems with our current healthcare system, which have not been helped with the likes of Clement and Klein; but rather than try to fix them; they prefer to sell them; despite the fact that private health services have proven to be far more expensive and far less effective. After all, the bottom line is their line; and the human element is rarely a factor.

Oops! That should have read: "the bottom line is their bottom line...".

I didn't think I resorted to name calling, and again, I have never been on this board before. I did pick up the No-Crap simply because I have always been a Tory supporter and followed closely the dealings between Mackay and Harper. (and yes I chuckled at the name before it was changed to CPC)

As far as the Liberal connection, you're singing to the choir. I mentioned that they have also been wooing the private healthcare people and I'm sure take just as much money from their lobbyists. I voted Liberal once in my life and that was last election (like most people doing so, I held my nose before dropping my vote into the ballot box) I also believe that anyone involved in the sponsorship scandal should be thrown in prison.

I just want people to be ready to go after their MP's at the first sign that our public healthcare system is being scrapped, and not wait until it's too late. Remember why the National Citizen's Coalition was formed in the first place and remember too, that Stephen Harper is a past president of the NCC and has often spoken out in favour of private healthcare.

Don't buy into the posturing and don't believe for a moment that Corporate Canada is not behind his rise to the top. If stating substantiated facts is bashing, than I don't know what more I can do. Could it be than only Stephen Harper fans are allowed in this forum? If so, then I'm in the wrong place.

[Shakeyhands]

This awfully sounds like someone we all know and is banned from this forum.

Using CRAP. Anyone remember that doofus?

THELIBERAL

or ScottBrison

Both of these idiots like to use the CRAP moniker for CPC.

Here we go again.

One of the rules of this forum is for posters to not bash the parties with name calling. You come out with an apologetic post, then you pull this shit, why don't you go somewhere else?

The sky may be falling in your pathetic little world, but we don't need to hear it here.

Go away.

I thought you were banned too Leader Circle?

I think the CRAP acronym is good.. not for the poopy commentary but for what current policy is all about.... perhaps PARC or CARP?

[Bryan]

The bottom line is, the Liberals are the ones who let healthcare get to the state it's in right now.

It's unfortunate that we are now in a situation where tough decisions have to be made, but the blame for whatever happens rests soley on the Liberals shoulders.

[cybercoma]

The bottom line is, the Liberals are the ones who let healthcare get to the state it's in right now.

It's unfortunate that we are now in a situation where tough decisions have to be made, but the blame for whatever happens rests soley on the Liberals shoulders.

Nonsense, Stephen Harper obviously destroyed healthcare in the 2 months that he was in office.

[geoffrey]

Not one or two. Many are waiting to cash in. And as for a mere $5,000.00, just follow the money and watch it add up. Powercorp - 20,000.00, Networc - 10,100.00 Human Resources Inc. thousands when you follow the money. And no, I'm not suggesting that the Supreme Court can be bought but it had to BE CHALLENGED just as Ralph Klein has TO CHALLENGE the Canada Health Act. They must already know what elements will not stand up to a forensic examination.

I agree that there are problems with our current healthcare system, which have not been helped with the likes of Clement and Klein; but rather than try to fix them; they prefer to sell them; despite the fact that private health services have proven to be far more expensive and far less effective. After all, the bottom line is their line; and the human element is rarely a factor.

Good to see that people are challenging a failed system, shows we at least have some sense in this country. Go Ralph!

The system doesn't work buddy, get over it, its dead, its gone. Waiting lists have no place in health care provision. Another case of the government being somewhere it shouldn't be.

Too bad the CPC doesn't have the political capital to shoot this dead cow.

[Nocrap]

The bottom line is, the Liberals are the ones who let healthcare get to the state it's in right now.

It's unfortunate that we are now in a situation where tough decisions have to be made, but the blame for whatever happens rests soley on the Liberals shoulders.

Nonsense, Stephen Harper obviously destroyed healthcare in the 2 months that he was in office.

OK. I guess you missed the point.

Stephen Harper did not destroy healthcare, but is definitely not positioned to save it, as many believe.

In fact, he has never hidden his agenda in that regard.

The Liberals have done just as much to tear it down and have actually made it easy pickings for lobbyists.

However, I am only encouraging people to be more informed voters and not just assume Liberals Bad - CPC Good. If we've learned anything from the sponsorship scandal, it's what can happen when we put too much faith in any politician or party. I'm extremely angry that the Liberals took my money and squandered it so recklessly. However, I'm not ready to just assume that the CPC will do any better, when it's clear that they have just as many friends in the private healthcare industry as the Liberals.

In bringing up the people behind Mr. Harper's rise to the top, it's only to show that he also has some favours to keep, and that we as Canadians, need to watch him closely.

I've seen many posts where some have suggested that with the $5,000.00 limit, corporations can no longer influence any politician, but if you follow the money; as I suggested; you will see that there is more than one way to skin a cat. Anyone; including the Desmarais family are well within their rights to contribute to whatever party they want and their donation of 20 grand was perfectly legal. (4 people - 5,000 each)

It's just that since Mr. Harper wants me to believe that he is above reproach, he has to prove it first I'm no longer that naive.

I don't believe that either party is squeaky clean, and Canadians have to be ready to make sure that our MP's really do protect public healthcare, and not just stage a play for our amusement.

[geoffrey]

No, our MP's should not 'protect public health care.'

It does not work! At all! It failed! I have to wait for care, unacceptable!

We should have been moving towards a publicly insured, privately delivered system for years now, but instead the parties have defended this ghost as a politically expediant way to stick around.

I'm sick of parties putting re-elections over our health, time to get rid of this monsterous burden on both our finances and health.

[Montgomery Burns]

Forget the fact that Peter Mackay is dating Sophie Desmarais (Julie Smyth, National Post, November 26, 2005, amoung others), but the family also, through it’s four principle owners, contributed $ 20,000.00 to Harper’s party in 2005. Our PM’s congratulatory speech was just one more step to keeping his cash cows content.

I don't have a lot time to comment on this latest conspiracy theory but I'll point out that Ms. Demarais' brother is married to France Chretien daughter of ex-PM Jean. So by your logic the Demarais off-spring attach themselves to the power players of the day in order to fufill their secret geopolitical mandate to undermine all that is Canadian or some other convoluted theory you're amassing "evidence" on.

Chretien's daughter is married to the son of the biggest shareholder in Frrance's TotalFinaElf oil company--a company that was totally in bed with Saddam HUssein. Many people think that is why Chretien wanted Saddam to continue to run roughshod all over his people, the UN, and to continue to sponsor int'l terrorism.

It really was about the oil.

As for private healthcare being illegal in Canada, we are in good company. Two other countries in the world have made private healthcare illegal; Cuba and North Korea. Tis just another example of the lack of freedom Canadians have. Even if you have the money to go and get a test, you are not allowed to. You must wait in line for months. I find it sad that other countries look to Canada's healthcare system as what not to do when it comes to creating a healthcare system. However, ideology is everything to leftwingers and "former Tory supporters" like Nocrap. People are suffering and even literally dying but the left doesn't give a damn. They will do everything they can to continue to support our horribly inept and incompetent national healthcare system.

[wellandboy]

I'm taking another 5 minutes of my busy day to fire a little broadside into your conspiracy theory. 1st did ya happen to look at Liberal donations. Funny but the same Demarais seem to appear there as well. Oh and your reference to Connaught Labs, let's see they dropped that name about 8 years ago for Pasteur Merioux, then Aventis and finally last year to sanfoni-Aventis. Not exactly current on the names and not exactly accurate research overall.

[Shakeyhands]

No, our MP's should not 'protect public health care.'

It does not work! At all! It failed! I have to wait for care, unacceptable!

We should have been moving towards a publicly insured, privately delivered system for years now, but instead the parties have defended this ghost as a politically expediant way to stick around.

I'm sick of parties putting re-elections over our health, time to get rid of this monsterous burden on both our finances and health.

I think that our hospitals, while in need of tighter oversight are fine, I also see our healthcare sytem as fine... sure it can use extra $'s (again with the proper oversight) but I have to say, anytime I or my family have needed care, well, we got it. I really don't by the sky is falling arguement proposed by those who think For Profit Care is a good thing, especially the bastardized version of publically paid for care. Sounds like another 407 saga to me.

Geoffrey, please post and tell us, if its not so personal, what care you had to wait for?

[Nocrap]

I'm taking another 5 minutes of my busy day to fire a little broadside into your conspiracy theory. 1st did ya happen to look at Liberal donations. Funny but the same Demarais seem to appear there as well. Oh and your reference to Connaught Labs, let's see they dropped that name about 8 years ago for Pasteur Merioux, then Aventis and finally last year to sanfoni-Aventis. Not exactly current on the names and not exactly accurate research overall.

Actually, Geoffrey has proven my point about Public Healthcare vs Private Healthcare. Mr. Harper is not protecting public as many believe. Good or bad is not the issue. He is poised to scrap public, whether we choose to believe it or not. If you want public - fight. If you want private - stick with Mr. Harper.

As to the Desmarais, who cares if they also gave to the Liberals. The Liberal party is just as much behind Private Healthcare as the CPC - I think I said that. I can't stand Chretien; I never could and the only good thing he did when he was PM was to take a stand on Iraq. But again, nothing to do with Private Healthcare.

This actually, only proves my point that the CPC is no better or worse than the Liberals, when it comes to lobbying, and we need to arm ourselves (hypothetically) against another Gomery Report.

Think, look, learn!

Again - Liberals Bad (Liberals Very Bad!!!), but CPC not looking so good either; so instead of turning a blind eye; keep them on their toes, before they step on ours.

[Army Guy]

I've heard about long waiting times for MRI's, radition treatment for cancers, and long waiting times because of the lack of staff. It's been mentioned here before perhaps the answer to some of this is free education in all the health fields in exchange for a contract of locked in service for reduced wages for x amount of years.

Just a suggestion.

[scribblet]

From the man who claims to be thinking strategy 24/7; Stephen Harper has certainly strategized Canadians into private healthcare, come hell or highwater. The stage is set and he is ready to put in motion his and the National Citizen’s Coalition’s agenda to scrap Medicare.

What a pile of rot. Check out Harper's statements and the policy re: adhering to the Canada Health Act, and maybe you should try googling contributors to the liberals.

Gawd, I need a bigger tin foil hat.

[geoffrey]

No, our MP's should not 'protect public health care.'

It does not work! At all! It failed! I have to wait for care, unacceptable!

We should have been moving towards a publicly insured, privately delivered system for years now, but instead the parties have defended this ghost as a politically expediant way to stick around.

I'm sick of parties putting re-elections over our health, time to get rid of this monsterous burden on both our finances and health.

I think that our hospitals, while in need of tighter oversight are fine, I also see our healthcare sytem as fine... sure it can use extra $'s (again with the proper oversight) but I have to say, anytime I or my family have needed care, well, we got it. I really don't by the sky is falling arguement proposed by those who think For Profit Care is a good thing, especially the bastardized version of publically paid for care. Sounds like another 407 saga to me.

Geoffrey, please post and tell us, if its not so personal, what care you had to wait for?

Nearly lost my leg from a flesh eatting infection because it took 6 hours to see a doctor in emergency, and the tirage system counted my condition as minor. Another hour or so and skin would need to be removed and another hour after that amputation would have been likely. This from the doctor that later criticised me.

If I had lost it, I would have no doubt sued for millions.

In Europe, I'd walk in, get it fixed before it progressed to the stage where I had IV antibiotics for a couple of days.

I was told by the doctor that "If I had come in sooner" it would have been treatable with only an injection and oral anti-biotics. He then called me a liar when I said I waited six hours to see him.

The system is broken when people have to wait for anything. There is no need. A hip replacement is speedy if it happens in less than six months. People are suffering, people are dying, because of our system.

I only ever wanted a single payer system, I don't believe that anyone should have better access because they have more money. With private hospitals, paid for by public insurance, we get the best of both worlds, no waiting times, fast and top notch service, and equality in affordability.

Why not?

[geoffrey]

Add on top of this the cost to the economy of my injuries... times the hundreds of thousands of workers that miss work because of our health care system...

A few extra hours in the ER is thousands of dollars in lost performance by companies. The cost of our failed system on the economy is probably in the billions a year.

[Riverwind]

I only ever wanted a single payer system, I don't believe that anyone should have better access because they have more money. With private hospitals, paid for by public insurance, we get the best of both worlds, no waiting times, fast and top notch service, and equality in affordability.

Any system which has no mechanism for limiting demand (i.e. a cost to the user) will suffer from out of control demand which forces the payer (i.e. govt) to limit the supply. This happens in the US too as companies turn to HMOs and severly limit the scope of their health benefits in order to control costs.

In other words, no matter what we do with the system there will always be stories like yours. The only way your nightmare could have been avoided is if you had the option of using your credit card to bypass the triage process in the emergency ward.

[geoffrey]

I only ever wanted a single payer system, I don't believe that anyone should have better access because they have more money. With private hospitals, paid for by public insurance, we get the best of both worlds, no waiting times, fast and top notch service, and equality in affordability.

Any system which has no mechanism for limiting demand (i.e. a cost to the user) will suffer from out of control demand which forces the payer (i.e. govt) to limit the supply. This happens in the US too as companies turn to HMOs and severly limit the scope of their health benefits in order to control costs.

In other words, no matter what we do with the system there will always be stories like yours. The only way your nightmare could have been avoided is if you had the option of using your credit card to bypass the triage process in the emergency ward.

Or my private insurance provider, which I already use for things like nicer casts and ambulance rides.

There is nothing against having higher rates for those that over-use the system, I've got no problem with that. Why can't we have the doctors click "valid reason" or "invalid reason" and those that just waste the time of our professionals, get the boot?

The demand isn't the whole problem in Canada either, we need more infrastructure. And if you allow it, the private sector would love to come in and build it for us.

[Hicksey]

Anyone living in Ontario knows all about two-tier Tony Clement who has long been committed to privatizing the public health care system.

http://www.afl.org/campaigns-issues/health/health-track.cfm

He was aggressively involved in the slash and burn of Mike Harris’ Common Sense Revolution; firing nurses

and shutting down hospitals, which helped to create the current ‘wait times’ and bed shortage epidemic.

Are you kidding?

This became necessary only because your beloved Martin cut the Healthcare and Infrastructure transfer payments by 40%.

If you're going to tell a story, tell the whole thing.

[Hicksey]

The bottom line is, the Liberals are the ones who let healthcare get to the state it's in right now.

It's unfortunate that we are now in a situation where tough decisions have to be made, but the blame for whatever happens rests soley on the Liberals shoulders.

Nonsense, Stephen Harper obviously destroyed healthcare in the 2 months that he was in office.

OK. I guess you missed the point.

Stephen Harper did not destroy healthcare, but is definitely not positioned to save it, as many believe.

In fact, he has never hidden his agenda in that regard.

The Liberals have done just as much to tear it down and have actually made it easy pickings for lobbyists.

However, I am only encouraging people to be more informed voters and not just assume Liberals Bad - CPC Good. If we've learned anything from the sponsorship scandal, it's what can happen when we put too much faith in any politician or party. I'm extremely angry that the Liberals took my money and squandered it so recklessly. However, I'm not ready to just assume that the CPC will do any better, when it's clear that they have just as many friends in the private healthcare industry as the Liberals.

In bringing up the people behind Mr. Harper's rise to the top, it's only to show that he also has some favours to keep, and that we as Canadians, need to watch him closely.

I've seen many posts where some have suggested that with the $5,000.00 limit, corporations can no longer influence any politician, but if you follow the money; as I suggested; you will see that there is more than one way to skin a cat. Anyone; including the Desmarais family are well within their rights to contribute to whatever party they want and their donation of 20 grand was perfectly legal. (4 people - 5,000 each)

It's just that since Mr. Harper wants me to believe that he is above reproach, he has to prove it first I'm no longer that naive.

I don't believe that either party is squeaky clean, and Canadians have to be ready to make sure that our MP's really do protect public healthcare, and not just stage a play for our amusement.

Why then don't you wait until he does something bad to judge him as such,instead of just assuming it?