I think that John Tory was talking about looking at some innovative ways to deal with the health care crisis, involving private facilities but using one’s OHIP card.

Of course that was lambasted by the Liberals and NDP and then got buried under the FB-funding fiasco.

What Mike Harris did was temporary. We need a long term perspective and we can’t have that as long as politics and health care are tied by the umbilical cord.

Politicians cannot tell the populace that our system is unsustainable and health care providers who are not tied to the ministry and who can speak out aren’t heard either because they are perceived to be self-serving.

The public does not seem prepared to accept quite yet that our monopoly system doesn’t work. THe unions of course are backers of many pro-medicare groups and are very vocal.

What the public doesn’t realize is how bad things are going to get before they allow a true long term solution to be found…which will require more private care.

But Canadians seem addicted to their health care beliefs for now…and when they hit bottom they may see things differently. It has already started.

Look at Brampton Civic…they don’t have sufficient staff. Why? Because of cut backs from the Barer-Stoddard report back in the early 90’s amongst other things.

One thing is for sure….things are going to get worse before the public understands.