Carnal Reason

Canada’s top court has looked into the eyes of the country’s political leaders and called their bluff. For more than a decade, prime ministers and premiers have boasted about how medicare is the best health care system in the world. In election after election, they have pledged to make it even better.

But in a split decision yesterday, the justices of the Supreme Court of Canada exposed that rhetoric for what it plainly is: A lie, a shallow promise, a political tactic employed by the federal Liberals to gain, and retain, the keys to government.

The judgment is truly historic and will transform this country’s health system in ways that we still do not comprehend. But this much is clear: Some of the judges were unwilling to let governments twiddle their thumbs any longer, while countless Canadians suffer and die while on lengthy wait lists for medical treatment.

Source: The Ottawa Citizen

The Supreme Court of Canada has ruled that the private sector may legally provide medical care, breaking the government monopoly. Not everyone is happy about it:

Liberals cannot and will not accept a health-care system that offers a higher quality of care for the rich than for the poor.

Not even if the rich make it possible for the system to function by paying for their own care and so subsidizing the care of the poor. The Liberal Party prefers that everyone suffer equally, no matter if it renders the health care system unsustainable.

Posted on June 11th, 2005 by pwyll
Filed under: General