The Newfoundland and Labrador Premier is coming to the US for heart surgery.

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=2510700

 

He probably needs some rediculously narrow specialty surgeon and the only one he can find is in the US...

 

The article said it themselves...

I wonder what the folks who say Canada's system is just fine think about this.

- NCSU

 

At least we can spell "health"! Kidding. More often then not I hear of people crossing into the states for specialized procedures, sometimes Americans in Canada too. Alot of our Canadian trained doctors leave to the states because the money they're offered. Our health care is paid for through the government, but this does not mean we have the best of anything available!

 

If the gov't is providing it, rarely would it be the best of anything available.

- NCSU

 

I can spell, unfortunately, I can't type worth squat.

I agree about specialists, but we aren't talking about countries like Zambia, Ethiopia, or even South Africa. This is Canada. It should be able to have and keep excellent specialists.

 

It's pretty simple. Canada's population is lets say around the 35 million mark. ( and that's being really generous ) The population of California ALONE is over 37 million. Our standard of living is pretty much equal to that of you guys in the US.

Frankly we can't afford to compete with you guys. We are already one of the most taxed countries in the world.

 

Thats what were worried about. If we go to gov healthcare we will be right there with you.

 

just curious, about how much do you get taxed?

 

Would that prohibit Kanuks or other non-citizens from coming down and using our system?

- NCSU

 

I will just use me and my location for an example. For everything I buy, I get taxed 12%. Although this depends on which province you are located. Alberta has a 5% sales tax.

As for wages, it's safe to say that over 26% goes to taxes and other government programs such as Unemployment Insurance and Canada Pension Plan.

 

People are always trying to do it, but Canada and the United States can not be compared to one another. Not in an attempt to solve problems that are unique to each nation. What works (or doesn't work) in Canada has little or no bearing on what may or may not work in the States.

Here's a short read that covers the big differences...

http://www.theseminal.com/2007/06/01...united-states/

 

You think you have some smoking gun, but you're talking about speacialists here, not healthcare on the hole. Me, and every Canadian I know have no complaints about our system, it's not perfect, nor is your system, or should I say, lack there-of.

And no, if you had government healthcare, it wouldn't stop people from coming from all over to see speacialists.. Kind of odd how you put down other nations people stimulating your own local economy's.

There's no reason to bash because you can't see why we have no complaint's. Quite frankly I still don't understand why you're all so against it. It must not be compareable to what we have here. Any time I go to my doctor, I'm in and out in reasonable time, I'm always taken care of no matter why I'm there, and the service is excellent.

 

Because we don't want any form of government health care.

 

Why am I against it? Everyone at one time in there life is probably going to need a specialist. Where would I go if the US didn't have them as it seems Canada does not. Otherwise there would be no reason for the premier to come here.
I wouldn't want a framer to do electrical or plumbing, nor would I want a GP to do heart surgery or oncology. There are far to many things that can go wrong it the doctor is not thoroughly trained in a specialty, and far to much for any doctor to learn them all.