Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Health comes first

So many stories; so little time.

In today's Sun, Dr. Sandy Buchman reminds us that if we don't have our health, little else matters - Did we forget health care?

I would argue that safety is another crucial issue, but yes, health care is right up there too.


Dr. Buchman points out:
For most Ontarians, the initial contact with the health care system is their family doctor.

Today, despite laudable efforts of present and past governments, more than one million adults and 130,000 children have no family doctor. Ontario ranks seventh among Canadian provinces in terms of doctors per 100,000 people.


Yes, the health issue is highly important and should return to the spotlight.

However, Dalton McGuinty and his Ass-Kickers are doing their best to keep FB-funding in the forefront - McGuinty tries to keep school issue alive:

While Mr. Tory has been hoping to put the schools issue behind him by promising a free vote among MPPs, Mr. McGuinty evoked the possibility of a three-year debate on school funding if Mr. Tory is elected.

"Instead of dealing with this matter in an upfront, transparent way, he is now saying that he wants to plunge this province into three years of destruction and distraction," he said.

"And now what he lacks the courage to do immediately, he plans to do by stealth."

The comments represent a change in tone from Mr. Mc-Guinty, who initially took the high road in responding to the Conservative shift.

Meanwhile, John Tory was trying to restore the focus on issues of higher importance:


"What's really important is that people focus on the really important hot issues in the next eight days," Mr. Tory said. "And that includes things like the doctor shortage, why kids with autism aren't getting treated, why the economy is languishing on Dalton McGuinty's watch, why millions and billions of our dollars are being wasted and spent improperly."

That's when 64-year-old Scarborough resident Jim Devine cut in from the sidelines at Sun Valley Grocery Store.

"What about the education, sir?" an obviously irritated Mr. Devine asked, with a security official making sure he did not get too close.

When Mr. Tory noted that a Conservative government plans to invest $1-billion in education in the first year and $2.4-billion the second year, Mr. Devine -- who claims he normally votes PC -- kept pushing, criticizing Mr. Tory for changing his faith-based stance and calling for a free vote.


Now the interesting thing is that Globe tells us that "Liberal officials denied that Mr. Devine is a party supporter but he has a Liberal sign on his lawn."


So the question is, did Mr. Devine really just switch his political allegiance in the last few months?

Or was he a stealthy plant?

Is someone lying here?


Nah... I'm sure you can trust Dalton McGuinty.


* * * *
BTW, many thanks to Health Tips Blog for picking up this post. Let's get back to making this a healthy province again.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

It angers me so much when people believe these lies and the lying ads on t.v. Now the Star is endorsing McGuinty as the best premier for Ontario. How do we get the truth out to people.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Well, anyone who buys the Star is already a Liberal, so I'm not worried about that.

Anonymous said...

I'm happy to see a post on health care because it gives me the opportunity to get something off my chest that has been in the back of my mind the last couple of weeks. I would like to know why, when there is a doctor shortage, that there is no coverage under OHIP for naturopathic doctors. Since I have started going to see a naturopath, I haven't bothered my family doctor once. Unfortunately, it is very expensive to go to a naturopath and the natural remedies that they prescribe are not covered under any drug plan, but at least I am freeing up valuable resources for other Ontarians. And I'm feeling healthier than ever!

Anonymous said...

I'd sure like to see OHIP coverage installed again for chiropractors. I don't want to see a Doctor and take drugs every time I have a shoulder or back pain.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

That is an excellent question, Steph. Prevention can save so much money and grief.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

I'd sure like to see OHIP coverage installed again for chiropractors

Yes, but if we at least got our health tax money back, we could spend it on such things. Dalton really did a double whammy adding the tax, and taking away chiropractic and eye exam coverage.

Anonymous said...

I would like to know why, when there is a doctor shortage, that there is no coverage under OHIP for naturopathic doctors.

I'd sure like to see OHIP coverage installed again for chiropractors.

Dalton really screwed us on the last one. Two weeks ago it cost me $100 to get my eyes checked (on top of the $900 I sent to Dalton.)

What I like in John Tory's platform is that he isn't just planning to spend more on health care but he's looking for ways spend it more effectively. These might be ways to help him make that happen.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Jeff Allan is talking about autism right now. Early intervention is crucial, yet McGuinty has fought these parents in court.

And yet Dalton floats the idea of paying for in-vitro fertilization now according to Jeff.

What??? I thought Dalton needed "every penny" of that health tax!

Anonymous said...

Speaking of autism, I ran across this article. Mindboggling.

http://www.thestar.com/article/191278

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Thanks, Anon. I was thinking about that too when I wrote the post, but needed a link. I'll add that.

Anonymous said...

What I like in John Tory's platform is that he isn't just planning to spend more on health care but he's looking for ways spend it more effectively. These might be ways to help him make that happen.

Yes that is a very good point. That was one thing that the PC candidate was talking about at the all candidates meeting I attended on Monday. Really there is only a certain amount of money but the key is to make the money go farther. I think it would be quite possible to give Ontarians better quality health care without the health tax that we have thanks to Dalton. Raising taxes like he did is the easy way out. What needs to be done is to think intelligently about how to get more out of less money. It's very possible.

I don't want to see a Doctor and take drugs every time I have a shoulder or back pain.

Yes, exactly! And every prescription medication, no matter what it is, has side effects and some of them can accumlate to cause bigger health problems than what the prescription medication was initially trying to address. So it can end up costing the health care system much more in the long run.

Anonymous said...
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