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.

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