Stern Reaction To Harper's Wait Times Plan
The very next time you hear some Tory or other right wing groupie tell you what a wonderful job PM Stephen Harper is doing in keeping his election promises, stop them in their tracks and laugh very loudly in their face. The recent slight of hand that the Harperites have concocted with regard to surgical waiting times is a joke. It is such a blatant fib that we simply can’t let it go unchallenged.
While I have a reputation for slamming the honesty and integrity of these political fraudsters, listen to what others have to say on the newly announced Conservative plan:
"We have no problem with another study, but what happened to Harper's earlier promise of wait time guarantees for ALL patients in the five areas he identified, three of which, cancer, cardiac and eye surgery are now repeated here for children?"
Toronto Sun Editorial
January 13, 2006
"Saskatchewan Health Minister Len Taylor scathingly describes federal funding of a project to cut surgical wait times for kids as "a pittance" and "an unwelcome intrusion" into provincial jurisdictions. [...]
"Clement and Harper are so anxious to get some positive coverage on a national wait-time guarantee program that they propose, without consultation with the provinces, that they're now trying to find little ways of getting their foot in the door so they can say, 'We're putting some money behind our commitment,' when in fact the commitment really is engage the provinces because we're responsible ultimately for delivering the programs and not all of the provinces have the capacity to do that," Taylor said.
Regina Leader Post
January 13, 2006
And just to refresh your memory, here is what Mr. Harper and his horde of Tories promised you before the last election:
"Harper said Canadians will choose the composition of the next Parliament. Should Conservatives lead that Parliament, the Conservative Party will pursue the following five priorities:
* Clean up government by passing the Federal Accountability Act;
* Provide real tax relief to working families by cutting the GST;
* Make our streets and communities safer by cracking down on crime;
* Help parents with the cost of raising their children; and
* Work with the provinces to establish a Patient Wait Times Guarantee."
Photo courtesy Hamilton Spectator
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Need I remind you that the provincial auditor caught Dalton McGuinty fiddling with his own numbers respecting the wait times his province has failed to reduce.
So why bother consulting a Premier who has to cover his own tracks breaking another promise he made to the electorate concerning wait times.
Better for the federal government to find out for themselves what the real problem is, the intransigence of the Dalton McGuinty luberals to keep their end up respecting this issue like accrediting foreign trained doctors to fill the void.
Posted by
Mark-Alan Whittle |
4:43 pm, January 13, 2007
Regardless of McGuinty's little 'hair pull' with the auditor, Harper got himself elected on those 5 promises and he is a liar. Your McGuinty point is noted but is certainly no defense for Harper or his tory horde.
Posted by
leftdog |
7:13 pm, January 13, 2007
Question? I have no experience with Canada's health care system but I've heard a lot of complaints about wait times, difficulty getting some medical procedures, etc.
What are some of the ways being proposed to ameliorate the situation? Is it a shortage of doctors, funding or both? Or is it at least partially an inefficient delivery system?
I might be a bit naive but I think there are times a little capitalism married to a little socialism can work wonders. I'm keeping an eye on the Gubernator's Universal Health Care Plan for California.
Besides, I pay some Canadian taxes (my way of taking money away from my government that I do not support) so I'd like to know how my pennies are being spent :)
Posted by
Not Your Mama |
10:12 am, January 14, 2007