You guys from Canada are beating us.....Geeeez ! Look at this...

[Mounted Madness]

No one ever claimed a Reporter / Journalist would let a few facts get in the way of a good story. Canada beats US is always a good play, especially with the home team.

There are those in both US and Canada who are fantastically wealthy and those who don't have two pennies to rub together. Most of us on TBN, I suspect fall somewhere between those two extremes. Wherever we live in North America, when compared to how billions of other people live, I think we are truly blessed.

And your statement is one we TOO frequently forget. Thanks for the reminder...:thumbsup:

 

[3930dave]

Cinder - I had some awareness of the efficiencies (for better or worse) being pushed through in Ontario. That is why I found the article concerning Quebec so startling. Wish I could come up with the link to that, if I do I will post it later.

We have a good system here, but there is "a lot" going on behind the curtains. Americans reading this thread will get a glimpse into some of the issues our system struggles with, and some of our regional differences.

It is a big game, with big stakes for everybody. I do recall over the years the various bed count cuts, cuts to nursing funding, and reduced med school enrollment limits. At the same time, our government was allowing high immigration levels, knowing full well that the resident population was aging.

The preceeding paragraph is partly where my "Create a crisis to drive an agenda" comment came from. That we have as well a performing health care system as we do (despite cuts, and "efficiencies") is mostly a testimony to the professionalism of the workers.

Rgds, D.

 

[Lloyd_E]

You guys are still sour about 1812... !

Health Care...

We pay a lot in taxes... to cover some of the costs. Our government, Federal, and including provincial make a lot of mistakes regarding salary increases, admin direction etc.
We have a huge problem retaining Dr's. We also have a world class Medical University here... but the debt load of a graduate is probably $150K or higher and they seek a higher
salary elsewhere to pay it off... wouldn't you?

I have no problem with a two tiered system. If you can pay for it, you free up the wait line for the general public. I have friends that can pay for it and they go stateside - period!

The system is hierarchal. I have experienced it on both sides. Having heart issues three years ago I was whisked in through emerge, hooked up even before they completed the paperwork.
My total cost was just under $100 and that was for a private phone hook up and long distance calls home. The antithesis of this is waiting in emerge for 5+ hours to have stitches in a finger.
And being second last, giving up my position to a young mother with an infant who had been there longer... when the infant only had a cold but no family doctor was available.

I recently had a cat-scan for my back. I told them I would travel half the province... anytime, any day... that gave me about 6 options. Instead of waiting 2-6 months as usual I got in within 3 weeks...
actually two - someone cancelled last minute and that is another issue.

We can all give examples good or bad... the system has it faults. A lot can be fixed if there is a 'want' to fix it. I can give examples of over spending on supplies because it was always done that way
and people/systems don't change.

We have seen tourism killed here after 911 which equates to dollars spent here which equates to possible budget increases to Health Care. We have also seen government assist in killing tourism
with the removal of a link to the US, stoppage of HST reimbursements to the travelling USA citizens and unfounded increases in gas prices!

With the dollar on par we have lost a revenue stream of US citizens buying real estate here and hiring carpenters, tradespeople etc...

We have felt the economy dwindle...

It will be a long road to recovery if it ever happens...

 

[tcreeley]

You guys are still sour about 1812... !

Health Care...

We pay a lot in taxes... to cover some of the costs. Our government, Federal, and including provincial make a lot of mistakes regarding salary increases, admin direction etc.
We have a huge problem retaining Dr's. We also have a world class Medical University here... but the debt load of a graduate is probably $150K or higher and they seek a higher
salary elsewhere to pay it off... wouldn't you?

I have no problem with a two tiered system. If you can pay for it, you free up the wait line for the general public. I have friends that can pay for it and they go stateside - period!

The system is hierarchal. I have experienced it on both sides. Having heart issues three years ago I was whisked in through emerge, hooked up even before they completed the paperwork.
My total cost was just under $100 and that was for a private phone hook up and long distance calls home. The antithesis of this is waiting in emerge for 5+ hours to have stitches in a finger.
And being second last, giving up my position to a young mother with an infant who had been there longer... when the infant only had a cold but no family doctor was available.

I recently had a cat-scan for my back. I told them I would travel half the province... anytime, any day... that gave me about 6 options. Instead of waiting 2-6 months as usual I got in within 3 weeks...
actually two - someone cancelled last minute and that is another issue.

We can all give examples good or bad... the system has it faults. A lot can be fixed if there is a 'want' to fix it. I can give examples of over spending on supplies because it was always done that way
and people/systems don't change.

We have seen tourism killed here after 911 which equates to dollars spent here which equates to possible budget increases to Health Care. We have also seen government assist in killing tourism
with the removal of a link to the US, stoppage of HST reimbursements to the travelling USA citizens and unfounded increases in gas prices!

With the dollar on par we have lost a revenue stream of US citizens buying real estate here and hiring carpenters, tradespeople etc...

We have felt the economy dwindle...

It will be a long road to recovery if it ever happens...

The US needs to go back to an open border with Canada. Being in Maine, our family loved going on 1-2 day trips up into Canada- a wealth of beauty and culture. We used to drive to St. John for fencing tournaments -closer than Boston. Our last trip was to Yarmouth on the Cat, proceeding through Halifax to Cape Breton. All of that came to an end with the requirement for us to get a passport to be able to get back in to the US. (**** papers- create the climate of fear)
I curse homeland security and the government for infringing upon my freedom.

 

[WilliamBos]

The US needs to go back to an open border with Canada. Being in Maine, our family loved going on 1-2 day trips up into Canada- a wealth of beauty and culture. We used to drive to St. John for fencing tournaments -closer than Boston. Our last trip was to Yarmouth on the Cat, proceeding through Halifax to Cape Breton. All of that came to an end with the requirement for us to get a passport to be able to get back in to the US. (**** papers- create the climate of fear)
I curse homeland security and the government for infringing upon my freedom.

That is why I do not travel stateside anymore, the hassle given by the folks at Homeland security drives me nuts!

 

[Lloyd_E]

The US needs to go back to an open border with Canada. Being in Maine, our family loved going on 1-2 day trips up into Canada- a wealth of beauty and culture. We used to drive to St. John for fencing tournaments -closer than Boston. Our last trip was to Yarmouth on the Cat, proceeding through Halifax to Cape Breton. All of that came to an end with the requirement for us to get a passport to be able to get back in to the US. (**** papers- create the climate of fear)
I curse homeland security and the government for infringing upon my freedom.

tc...

Interestingly we have shared many things with our US neighbours over the last 300+ years. Sadly that has been diminished over time. We have friends/neighbours from the US that summer here. And they too complain about homeland security... and he is a Veteran. I guess we can no longer accept the simple things or simple truths in life or the simple bonds and respect for individuals. It is truly sad.

On another good note we have enjoyed the International Ox Pulls here between teams from Maine and Vermont and New Hampshire competing with our local teams. It is a highlight of my summer as I am interested in this historic event. I envy the height of the New England Ox build but I guess you need it to get through your 3-5' feet of snow every year... !

Lloyd

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

That is why I do not travel stateside anymore, the hassle given by the folks at Homeland security drives me nuts!

So far, touch wood, DW and I have experienced no particular problems going either way. Couple of times going acrosss with Son to pick up boats the US guys asked some questions that seemed a bit silly. "Why do you have such a big boat trailer?" UHHHH - so the boat we are buying will fit? "How many other boats do you have?"

But the real kicker came from Canada Border Services trying to come back home. They jerked him around for about 2 hours @ 1:00 in the morning and then when he asked (foolishly) what should be done to avoid the hassle another time, the answer to that took another hour. My sexist view of the thing - mid twenties female with a gun - middle of the night - chip on shoulder - power trip - nothing better to do - good entertainment.

I wouldn't mind seeing an open border either. Why is Free Trade only for the corporations? Why does a vehicle built in Oshawa Ontario sell for $10K more in ON than the same vehicle shipped to the US for sale? Because GM, Ford and all the rest of them can get away with it.

 

[Lloyd_E]

On Homeland security we haven't had any issues travelling into the States or coming home. On a recent trip(2 months ago) I drove an elderly neighbour to Bar Harbour to pick up a Boston Whaler.
He had all of the paper work in order in a brief case in folders. We explained on the way in that we would be back within 24 hours with a boat in tow.

We actually had more of an issue with the NB Highway Inspection - which actually turned out positive - we were polite, asked questions and engaged them... another story.

When we drove to Virginia several years ago upon entry we were questioned as to our purpose... told them who we would be visiting, exact address etc. It was early morning and the HS Officer apologized that he didn't know them... in a straight poker face. My wife got the joke I didn't!

I flew to FLA several years back with my wife, post 911... early morning departure from our little hole-in-the-wall international airport. We were first in line. Actually I was, attendant pulled me aside, said it was a random check. We had spent the last 10-15 minutes discussing our trip with her and life in general. I said random would be number 7 or 13 or 21 in line not number one! I was not amused...

Now on the way back home it was a different story... tanned, longish hair, bushy moustache, slightly hooked nose etc... you get the picture. I was pulled out of every line and searched. I was patient, said nothing, obeyed orders.

All good life stories I guess.

 

[brin]

On Homeland security we haven't had any issues travelling into the States or coming home. On a recent trip(2 months ago) I drove an elderly neighbour to Bar Harbour to pick up a Boston Whaler.
He had all of the paper work in order in a brief case in folders. We explained on the way in that we would be back within 24 hours with a boat in tow.

We actually had more of an issue with the NB Highway Inspection - which actually turned out positive - we were polite, asked questions and engaged them... another story.

When we drove to Virginia several years ago upon entry we were questioned as to our purpose... told them who we would be visiting, exact address etc. It was early morning and the HS Officer apologized that he didn't know them... in a straight poker face. My wife got the joke I didn't!

I flew to FLA several years back with my wife, post 911... early morning departure from our little hole-in-the-wall international airport. We were first in line. Actually I was, attendant pulled me aside, said it was a random check. We had spent the last 10-15 minutes discussing our trip with her and life in general. I said random would be number 7 or 13 or 21 in line not number one! I was not amused...

Now on the way back home it was a different story... tanned, longish hair, bushy moustache, slightly hooked noise etc... you get the picture. I was pulled out of every line and searched. I was patient, said nothing, obeyed orders.

All good life stories I guess.

You should be disgusted at what you are going through to get into the US....Just look at the border with Mexico...go down there and you can walk across...not a problem and if you get stopped, I heard on the news today,the border patrol has to accept whatever you say as true and let you go on your way... There is no telling who all is crossing the US border with Mexico unfettered and yet Canadians are harassed as we are if we try to travel anywhere...Go Figure ..

 

[chkntrktr]

You should be disgusted at what you are going through to get into the US....Just look at the border with Mexico...go down there and you can walk across...not a problem and if you get stopped, I heard on the news today,the border patrol has to accept whatever you say as true and let you go on your way... There is no telling who all is crossing the US border with Mexico unfettered and yet Canadians are harassed as we are if we try to travel anywhere...Go Figure ..

You beat me to it, but you said more than I would have and said it better.

Interesting thread about Canadian Health Care. I don't remember hearing anything but the very worst cases and the very best cases about ya'll during our debate down here, and of course that depended on which side was telling it. It's good to hear from people who live in the system and know the good and bad.

During the debate I always wondered where the Insurance companies and big health care companies stood on the issue. They were silent so far as I know. Don't know what it means but maybe some one else can chime in.