In yesterday’s Notional Pest (subscriber only, argh), ADQ leader Mario Dumont writes a very serviceable summary of the freedom-in-health-care argument. It begins with this:

On paper, Canada has the best health care system in the world: accessible, egalitarian and free. In reality, however, our ill citizens and their families are realizing first-hand that these claims have become myths.

The issue of accessibility is the subject of the first myth. From waiting months for surgery to waiting hours at the emergency room, patients are risking their health daily — sometimes even their lives — because they don’t have access to the medical services required when they need them. Overcrowding and delays have destroyed the system’s claim to true accessibility; nevertheless, we continue to make ourselves believe the opposite.

As Linkless John suggested, I’d like to see the “paper” where it says we have the best health care system in the world (Ed. Note: Red Book I thru IV, shurely!). But I am delighted that a mainstream politico is alert enough to realize that the current system is (a) flawed and (b) unsustainable. It’s no surprise that this is coming from Quebec: their politics may be flawed in any number of ways, but they have a unique “civil liberties” culture which is somewhat different from English Canada, and it lends itself to defending rights we Anglos have been too quick to suzukibarlow away. I used to think it would be impoverished Saskatchewan or Newfoundland that would legalize private medical care, on the grounds that they couldn’t afford the monopoly any more… but now I think it’ll be Quebec. Or, pace Paul Martin, that it already is Quebec.

Amusingly, there has been a quick response from the unions. In today’s Post, the following letter appeared (my remarks in bold):

The leader of the Action democratique du Quebec is propping up straw men to suit his pro-privatization agenda. His article is full of misrepresentations and half-truths that only serve the interests of private, for-profit companies in their search to destroy public health care in Quebec and the rest of Canada (nothing like a carefully reasoned introduction, eh? “Search to destroy”! That’s certainly what motivates Dr. Brian Day, of the Cambie Surgical Centre. “Time to destroy public health care! Then maybe I can eat some babies and mutilate some immigrants!” I wonder if this is what the union guys say when a brother or sister is hurt on the job, and gets private surgical care courtesy of the Worker’s Compensation Board. Traitor! Out to destroy public health care!)

No defender of public health care pretends it’s “free.” It costs money to sustain a quality, public system — but it’s more expensive not to have one. (Oscar Wilde, this is your lawyer calling!)

Mr. Dumont is half-right when he says that there is already a two-tier system. (If you’re half-right about a two-tier system, does that mean there’s a one-tier system?) Private, for-profit clinics providing a range of services are becoming entrenched across the country due to government inaction, and, in some cases, complicity. (Entrenched. Like some sort of pine beetle infestation! Damn private health care clinics! Taking care of people’s suffering, alleviating their pain! They’re MONSTERS, I tell ya!)

But as the public system is eroded, frustrated and anxious Canadians will be misled into believing that private clinics will help. They won’t. (And you better not let them think for themselves either! Only I may be allowed to do the thinking here!) They will only exacerbate the problem as they drain health professionals away from the system, weaken access to quality public services and create even longer waiting lists in the public system. (Just like they’ve done in France! With its mixed public-private system that the World Health Organization has the temerity to call the “best overall” in the world! Gutless corporate shills, that World Health Organization. Probably a bunch of Bush voters.)

We should make innovative efficiencies in health care — or any public service — where we can. (I am also in favour of motherhood parenthood and apple-pie bran.) But privatization leads to unequal access and a further weakened public system. It’s the wrong way to go.

Paul Moist, national president, Canadian Union of Public Employees, Ottawa.

I know it’s immature to make fun of someone’s name. Really, I do. But doesn’t “Paul Moist” sound like a leftie name even Ayn Rand would reject as being unbelievable?