ADQ would pay families with children at home!

[jdobbin]

Why are you using this either/or dichotomy? Are there no options aside from EvIl AmRicAn healthcare or the status quo in canada?

Where have I said the U.S. an evil system? Please show me. I asked if it was the best model.

[jdobbin]

We don't have to go either or. You still have way more power as a consumer of health care services under an HMO than you do in Canada. You can buy whatever insurance you wish in the US, you cannot in Canada. That is a truly terrible situation.

Many companies struggle under the US system of health care. That's not good either.

Many European countries have found adequate ways to balance universiality with patient rights and individual freedom. A mix of public and private is required for the health care system to function.

Currently, the Canadian system is an absolute failure. I'll really take anything else. I've had better and faster attention and care in Mexico for goodness sakes.

I don't know if the European system is ideal either. They seem to cast around just as much as the rest of us for a balance of cost effectiveness and universality.

We've had a few studies on what to do. I suppose one more under the Harper government and the provinces won't hurt.

[geoffrey]

We've had a few studies on what to do. I suppose one more under the Harper government and the provinces won't hurt.

Really, it should be under the provinces. They have the exclusive jurisdiction. I'd like to see Ottawa completely out of health care. Then again, I'd like to see Ottawa out of alot of things, and I never will.

[jdobbin]

Really, it should be under the provinces. They have the exclusive jurisdiction. I'd like to see Ottawa completely out of health care. Then again, I'd like to see Ottawa out of alot of things, and I never will.

Seems to me that the provinces must agree to allowing jurisdiction some way or it would never happen.

[Jerry J. Fortin]

The feds should have the ability to create national standards which require that all provinces meet a designated level of services but that should be the extent of their control. Literally all federal social programs should be handled in this manner. Remove a level of bureaucracy at the fed level and turn over the responsibility of administering program spending to the provinces. All such spending should be calculated on a per capita basis and included into federal transfer payments to the provinces.

[geoffrey]

Really, it should be under the provinces. They have the exclusive jurisdiction. I'd like to see Ottawa completely out of health care. Then again, I'd like to see Ottawa out of alot of things, and I never will.

Seems to me that the provinces must agree to allowing jurisdiction some way or it would never happen.

They agree to the Federal interference because Ottawa has all the tax room and holds the dollars. Realistically, the provinces should be collecting the lion's share of the taxes in Canada. Instead, we have a complex redistribution scheme.

Ottawa needs to cut taxation about 40-50% and let the provinces take up the difference. Then they could be out of health care no problem, education too. All those areas where they have no business being.

[guyser]

You still have way more power as a consumer of health care services under an HMO than you do in Canada.

You may think so but you would be wrong. Here, no phone call is needed to get treatment , any treatment, there not only must you call, if it is even remotely serious, you may not be covered.

[ScottSA]

You still have way more power as a consumer of health care services under an HMO than you do in Canada.

You may think so but you would be wrong. Here, no phone call is needed to get treatment , any treatment, there not only must you call, if it is even remotely serious, you may not be covered.

That's just not true. You need a doctors referral to a specialist, and whereas in the US, that specialist would see you in days, here it takes months for some. I was just =referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist, and the wait time is 6 months. Last August I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon for a sports injury. I'm still waiting.

[Pat Coghlan]

Why the hell are parents getting all this money thrown at them when additional kids raise the overall cost of education and healthcare?

People who decide not to burden society with their spawn should be the ones getting a kickback. Sure raising a child is tough and expensive, and I am all for making sure a child has a good environment to grow up in, but constantly rewarding people for having children when they are already enjoying the relatively free education and basic healthcare provided by the rest of the country who have already raised their kids, haven't had any yet or don't plan on having any at all is getting frustrating.

People without kids should be the ones getting a bonus every month, for not clogging up the doctors office or overcrowding our schools.

There was a story in today's Ottawa Citizen (bus. section) re: a Japanese company willing to pay $60,000 to each employee upon the birth of a 5th child.

Japan considers its low birthrate an emergency. We don't (yet). Who's right???

[guyser]

That's just not true.

Sadly it is true.

You need a doctors referral to a specialist, and whereas in the US, that specialist would see you in days,

Sure, without calling the HMO? Uh...Nope.

here it takes months for some. I was just =referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist, and the wait time is 6 months. Last August I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon for a sports injury. I'm still waiting.

And I am sorry for that. But that is neither here nor there. I have numerous personal and family situations that are entirely in reverse. No waiting, no hassle .

[jdobbin]

There was a story in today's Ottawa Citizen (bus. section) re: a Japanese company willing to pay $60,000 to each employee upon the birth of a 5th child.

Japan considers its low birthrate an emergency. We don't (yet). Who's right???

Japan thinks it has a problem because it doesn't want any immigration.

I think Japanese women don't like being referred to as breeding machines by their elected officials. They won't have more children just for the sake of just $60,000. It doesn't even come close to covering the cost.

[jdobbin]

They agree to the Federal interference because Ottawa has all the tax room and holds the dollars. Realistically, the provinces should be collecting the lion's share of the taxes in Canada. Instead, we have a complex redistribution scheme.

Ottawa needs to cut taxation about 40-50% and let the provinces take up the difference. Then they could be out of health care no problem, education too. All those areas where they have no business being.

Is tax room the sole reason that the provinces don't want total responsibility for healthcare?

[Michael Bluth]

Is tax room the sole reason that the provinces don't want total responsibility for healthcare?

The provinces do have sole responsibility for healthcare.

The Feds are involved because of the Canada Health Act.

Harper advocated Alberta taking sole responsibility for health care, including the related tax hit, in the Firewall Letter.

He got blasted for it.

[jbg]

Why are you using this either/or dichotomy? Are there no options aside from EvIl AmRicAn healthcare or the status quo in canada?

Where have I said the U.S. an evil system? Please show me. I asked if it was the best model.

Is everything in Canada guaged by the US? Boy, am I flattered.

[jbg]

Harper advocated Alberta taking sole responsibility for health care, including the related tax hit, in the Firewall Letter. He got blasted for it.

I'm one of the few Americans that has read the firewall letter. I see nothing offensive in it. I have said that taking the next step, separation, is treason.

[jdobbin]

Is everything in Canada guaged by the US? Boy, am I flattered.

I think I mentioned European systems in this thread as well. I'd be even interested to know what some of the Asian systems are like such as Japan and Korea. Australia and New Zealand are others I'd like to know about.

Quite a few in Canada are more familiar with the U.S. system. Hence, the question because some said in this forum it is the better system.