Healthcare pulls away from economy as top national issue

The see-saw of what is of major public concern appears to be functioning quite well. The "economy" has received so many positive political pronouncements that, perhaps, a little "sleepyness" has developed around the topic allowing it to slip a little in the sights of the broader public. I would suggest, though, when we hear there are rising bank foreclosures in Canada there is a little niggling concern in the background and I am sure the unemployed do not see such a rosy picture.

I believe the diminished economic concern has allowed the ever-present healthcare issue to again receive the spotlight. Perhaps, too, the increasing demographic of the 65+ with the retiring baby boomers is causing some potential users of the system to have some critical thought. We have a good UNIVERSAL healthcare system but, like any system, it likely could be managed more effectively and many feel it does not provide enough services nor provide those services quickly enough-----there maybe a limit to all our pocket books.

It would take but a hiccup in the fragile economoc recovery to cause that topic to bounce back into prominence.

I am surprised that pensions have really not achieved prominence in the Canadian thinking nor has the declining birthrate gained any apparent foothold in Canadian political thinking-----two major time bombs for the country.

[updated Tue Oct 05 05:21:53 -0400 2010]

Concern about healthcare is broadly based on the fact that its cost is expanding so rapidly. You have to think that the overall cost of healthcare is going to continue increasing. It is just a matter who should pay for it.
One objective way to control costs to the public healthcare system would be to not pay for any new surgical procedure or medication until ten years (or pick a number) after it has been introduced. People would have to buy insurance or pay for it themselves. The rationale would be, "Well, if you needed it ten years ago it wouldn't have been available. We expect people to accept the fact that rather than have the healthcare system collapse it is better to have a ten year old standard of healthcare."
Of course if the "new" procedure or medication is going to save money for the healthcare system its payment would be allowed. This might encourage the costs of the new procedures and medications to be reduced to bring them under the umbrella of public healthcare.

[updated Tue Oct 05 13:50:06 -0400 2010]

Billions for photo ops, jails and corporations, but no money for families. Very sick priorities and they are now showing.

With Ignatieff's popular platform, Harper is toast. You can see the fear in the CPC's eyes. Economy shifts to Healthcare. This spells the death of Harper, well known for wanting to privatize healthcare as the president of the NCC, a group of insurance company supporters that want to scrap the Canada Health Act.

Right on the heels of this failure:

Two-thirds of Canadians back long-gun registry: poll
Postmedia News October 5, 2010 – 5:43 pm

By Mark Kennedy

OTTAWA — Two-thirds of Canadians support the controversial long-gun registry and even voters who back Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s Conservatives are split on the issue, a new poll has found.

And now this:

RCMP probes $9-million contract for Parliament Hill renovation
Daniel Leblanc
Ottawa— From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
Published Tuesday, Oct. 05, 2010 10:30PM EDT

The RCMP is investigating a $9-million renovation contract on Parliament Hill to a Montreal-based construction firm that hired a Conservative supporter to help in its dealings with the federal government, sources said.

Its turning into a scandal a day. And failures galore.

[updated Tue Oct 05 23:36:35 -0400 2010]

And now the corruption is unravelling for Harper.

The ship is sinking. Census blunder, gun registry failure and now corruption.

Construction-firm president hosted Tory minister at fundraiser
Daniel Leblanc
Ottawa— Globe and Mail Update
Published Wednesday, Oct. 06, 2010 2:03PM EDT

The president of a construction firm that got a $9-million renovation contract on Parliament Hill went on to organize a fundraiser for the Conservative Party.

According to information obtained by The Globe and Mail and Radio-Canada, Paul Sauvé, the president of construction firm LM Sauvé, organized a fundraiser for the Conservative association in the riding of Bourassa in January 2009.

In an interview, Mr. Sauvé said he worked on the event after Conservative supporters in Montreal told him “it was the thing to do” after getting the contract.

[updated Wed Oct 06 14:53:01 -0400 2010]

This Government Is Not Exactly Devoid Of Political Judgment...

Harper and company know they're just about beaten already. It has finally sunk in.

[updated Wed Oct 06 16:08:15 -0400 2010]

Breaking Out Big John.

You know that Conservatives can smell trouble ahead when they send John Baird in front of the microphones and cameras. That's trouble with a capital "T". The allegations made in connection with the LM Sauvé renovation contract are at the very least, worthy of inquiry and there are reports that the RCMP has already begun an investigation.

As for Gilles Varin, it seems no one in Ottawa has ever heard of him. In fact, he reportedly has never been a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. Reminds me of my own status when I was a Conservative! I wish someone had been thoughtful enough to allegedly pay me $140,000.00 for my failure to lobby the Harper government. Nice work -- if you can get it...

[updated Thu Oct 07 09:35:34 -0400 2010]

Dear Prime Minister,

Please pay close attention. As far as I'm concerned, logic suggests that I should not have to say this more than once:

DISMISS.

DEMOTE.

DISCIPLINE.

And then do the right thing and apologize both on behalf of the Department and the Government.

Thank you.

[updated Thu Oct 07 21:58:31 -0400 2010]

Prime Minister Forgets To Bed Down In Fort McMurray!

Poor Stephen Harper. The job is really starting to take its toll -- some might of thought that by letting off some steam in Edmonton last Friday that he would have been right as rain by the next morning. Sadly, no. The demonization of the "coalition" just doesn't pay the dividends it used to! Putting the fear of God into the voters about their oil sands jobs is a pretty pathetic attempt at scaring the daylights out of every living, breathing Albertan. Alas, Fortress Alberta is no place for a single, solitary, NDP seat in this Prime Minister's humble opinion.

With the coalition bugaboo rapidly running out of gas, surely the PM should have made his way to Fort McMurray for an energy refill! But no, he played to what were described in media reports as "rabid" Conservatives, who apparently obediently ate it all up without objection, question or even consideration...par for the course, I suppose.

All of this to say that the Blue Bravado Express is surely back in Ottawa contemplating its next brilliant move aimed at The Holy Majority Trinity. What an impressive combination: fear mongering, fallacious and unintentional but nonetheless facetious arguments. Oh and yes, who can forget what comes next on the Conservative agenda: Fantino running in Vaughn.

[updated Mon Oct 11 17:26:49 -0400 2010]

Harper is an epic failure on the international stage. We were dead last in the running. Harper has no chance of winning the next election now.

This is a devastating blow to Harper which he will not recover. Harper is damaging Canada both nationally and internationally. Blaming Ignatieff for this epic fail is a pathetic and desperate attempt to escape the embarassment.

Time for Ignatieff to have a chance. It can't get any worse that this failure.

[updated Tue Oct 12 14:55:52 -0400 2010]

BS, Conservative Style!

Just when you think you've seen everything conceivable out of the PMO, they somehow manage to come up with a topper -- let's get this straight -- Canada lost a seat on the Security Council -- something that has never happened before in the history of the United Nations -- wait for it, because of Michael I-G-N-A-T-I-E-F-F.

Call me stupid but I don't get it: the Harper government is blaming this diplomatic disaster on Michael Ignatieff -- the guy they have spent more than two years smearing from sunrise to sunset. You remember the bogus lines -- Michael Ignatieff is not a leader. Michael Ignatieff is just visiting. Michael Ignatieff is not a "REAL" Canadian.

To hear Conservatives tell it, Michael Ignatieff has about as much credibility with Canadians as a pitcher of warm spit. But suddenly, thanks to their repeated bungling in foreign policy and climatic matters -- the New York humiliation is somehow Michael Ignatieff's FAULT.

Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon reminds us that Canada did not speak with one voice --or put another way, when Ignatieff allegedly went seriously offside that the diplomatic corps was so impressed with Mr. Ignatieff's words, demeanor and gravitas that it instinctively recoiled and deep sixed the Canadian bid for a temporary seat on the Security Council.

Cannon's remarks were also echoed by PMO Communications Director Dimitri Soudas: "I would say a big deciding factor was the fact that Canada's bid did not have unity because we had Mr. Ignatieff questioning and opposing Canada's bid".

Well if that ain't special. In Conservative eyes, Michael Ignatieff has quite suddenly and conveniently gone from underwhelming to exceedingly influential -- in a heart beat.

All I can say to the Harper government is you guys had better get a new bunch of narrative writers cause this gang you've got now really stinks to high heaven!

Conservative conduct likely to continue, as absurd as it is.

[updated Tue Oct 12 18:08:33 -0400 2010]

Here's An Idea For The Harper Government.

In light of our recent diplomatic faux pas, perhaps we could contact our good friend Chile (which may or may not have voted for us) and rent out the mine for a few days/weeks/months/years as soon as it's empty.

Simply invite UN General Assembly members there as our "guests" and not let them out until they say Uncle Stephen!!!

Who knows -- it's probably worth a shot. God knows the end result can't be any worse that what we've already "achieved"...

[updated Wed Oct 13 18:07:01 -0400 2010]