Rich Albertans Get Private Healthcare

"Cadillac hip replacements and blue-ribbon hospital rooms"
What is a Cadillac hip replacement?

If this means longer waiting times for the shallow-pocket peons then I do have a problem. If this means excellent doctors, clean operating rooms, good support staff and beds are sucked out of the system without replacement to be reserved for privileged people then it does affect the system.
Talus

Oh, there is no doubt it will affect the system, but hey, if you are rich, you will get the royal treatment in oil rich Alberta. Isn't everybody rich? There are so many subjective words used in this latest, first it isn't two tiered, NO? Those who wish to pay extra will get better care, and that isn't two tiered? Second, the basic services will be covered, and who decides what is basic?

The thing that irritates me most is that these proposals, were never put to the public, they were not discussed during the election at all. The other parts to the third way, (which I feel means we just got the third finger) but, we will all be paying more, and there isn't anything in this that deals with improving the public system. So the cuts that Klein made in the past, which created the problems are not going to be addressed, but those who can pay, will have what they need, and want.

The other thing that is interesting is that the Federal Health mininster doesn't see anything here that contradicts the Canada Health Act, which makes me wonder what the Liberals have in mind for the Health Act? Too many players, too much money involved, too much influence from the corporate greedies! This is not a good day for Albertans or Canadians.

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If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?

Yeah, but we`ve known for a while now that this would come, and nobody wants to do anything about it. What`s everyone so complacent for?

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Dave Ruston

Agreed?
Alberta is RICH.The majority here can afford private health.The poor are a minorty,never mind what anyone else says.Just drive around,go to a mall,this is a RICH province.Yes the people are complacent.Why?Too much money!The economic problems are overstated in this country.The monied are the majority now,that is why the changes are coming.Socialism has passed on and is no longer needed.The public here is very satisfied with Klein.Talking about all the problems in our medical system like it is the end of the world is useless.The fact is the majority of the people here in Alberta have no problem with a private system,and yes they can afford it.I don`t know what they will do for those who can`t,but most likely they will follow the American model once again.Which can`t be all that bad as the Americans seem to like it and don`t change it.

Affluence needs poverty, private facilities need public, the profiteers need the public system to continue to support them lest they have fewer health services consumers. This isn't about $9.3 Billion as Iris the Invincible contends - the best that the 'third way' can achieve financially is a zero sum game. It is about getting some of the $9.3 into the hands and pockets of cronies. Interestingly, the polls (Global, Herald, CFCN) are all running 50-50 on this issue.

Albertans are not all rich. Go to the malls, look at all the people working there for minimum, or close to it, wages.All this does is a reverse Robin Hood, take from the poor and give to the rich. Look at the murder statistics, the social safety net is letting people fall through.
The poor pay for the infrastructure and the rich pay to avoid the line ups.

No, no, there`s more poverty than ever in Canada, and thanks to privatization of health care, there will be even more! Is that what you want to see? Then be prepared for more violent crime, just like the US! And if it happens to you, don`t whine! You laissez-faire types wanted this!

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Dave Ruston

Then why is the public not rioting?
Look at what the poor in Bolivia did.
If the public does not want to make the changes,then they obviously are happy with the government policy.
I agree there is more poverty in Canada now than say 10 years ago,BUT,what has been done to eliminate it?

Those people you see working in malls for minimum wage,are mostly kids.Most of whom come from rich homes.Believe me there is a lot of wealth here.

Yes, there is a lot of wealth and it is concentrated in a very few families bank accounts. And there aren't just kids working in the malls. The people don't riot because we are divided, but then you knew that didn't you.

Some people should be mindful of what precedence they inflict upon others. The wealth is no longer self-contained within the province. The essential Mckenzie Delta gas supply requires the acquiescent approval of the representatives of all Canadians. This is no longer just Alberta's oil, it's also Canadian gas from beyond Alberta. We wouldn't want the rest of Canada to feel unloved. The rest of Canada should not place themselves at risk from estoppel.

Yes we are divided.But again the public refuses to do anything.Get undivided.But the public just sits.If you offer that kind of "resistance",the government and big business are going to do what they want.You,me,and Vive cannot educate anyone.If the public is unwilling to anything,sorry.They must accept the consequences.