How Keifer Sutherland's grandfather came to be known as the greatest Canadian ever.

Emily left me a comment asking what I thought of health care in Canada, what with the American election coming up and all and the pros and cons of Universal Health Care being debated. I'd like to think she thinks I am wise enough to throw my knowledge on the state of Canadian health care out there, but really I am not. I do work in a hospital though and I do go to a dentist and occasionally a doctor. I definitely have an opinion. Granted it's fairly one sided since I have only ever lived in two countries, England with its NHS and Canada with its Canada Health Act.

Universal Health Care was started in 1947 in Saskatchewan by Tommy Douglas (Keifer's grandad!) after talks for a Canada-wide system failed. Eventually other provinces started funding health care, and by 1961 all provinces and the 2 territories had health care that received funding from the federal government.

How it works is that each province provides health insurances to its residents, giving them free access to...well, it's long freaking list. There's a lengthy list of what isn't included as well...dental services (unless its dental surgery that takes place in a hospital) optometrists, cosmetic surgery. The federal government then provides the provincial governments with funds.

As a Canadian, I really have no idea what the cost of a hospital stay is. I do not receive a bill that lists tylenol as a $1.50 per pill, or a birth for $2500. When I saw Sicko and the man who cut off his two fingers was given the choice of one finger being reattached for $60,000 or the other for $12,000 I knew that, in Canada, he wouldn't have even been asked "Which finger?" They would have automatically done both, and he wouldn't have received a bill.

It is a far from perfect system. We have an ongoing doctor shortage, wait times can be long. If we hadn't have paid for William's CT scan we probably would have waited about 3 or 4 weeks for it to be done. If you go into the ER complaining of a headache though, chances are good that the CT will be done that night. It is also not entirely free either. In Alberta a family will pay $88 a month for health care, $44 if you are single. That is subsidized if you are under a certain income. I pay $22 a month for mine, my work benefits cover the rest. We will move over to William's works plan as soon as his health care arrives as they cover it 100%. We are having an election next week, and all 3 major parties are promising to eliminate the premiums. Will that happen? I seriously doubt it.

I do believe we take advantage of the system, in that people will run to the ER rather than going to their doctor or a medicentre. When you don't have to pay you just don't consider the cost. At all. I know that a visit to the doctor is $36, because we pay when William needs to go. But an ER? No clue.

Overall, I believe that the benefits outweigh the negatives. Yes, you might wait for elective surgery, but I would rather have it for free than pay a fortune that I don't have. Some of you may recall that last year my friend gave birth to twins 6 weeks early. The girls spent 5 weeks in the ICN. Each day in the ICN is $1,000 per child. That would have cost them over $80,000. Imagine the stress that would have caused them if they had to pay even a portion of that, or if they had had to fight with their insurance company or HMO for the coverage.

Universal Health Care does not equal third world medicine. Yes, many doctors and nurses choose to work south of the border, but we also attract renowned doctors and scientists. Rare and lifesaving surgeries are preformed. I know that if one of my children becomes seriously ill, we have access to one of the best childrens hospitals in North America. I know that my family and I will be treated for any ailments without insurance being brought up.

While we Canadians may bitch and moan about the state of health care -it's in our nature, we love to complain- I don't believe there are many who would get rid of it. After all there is a reason that Tommy Douglas, the founder of Universal Health Care and so many other social programs (including my beloved Child Tax benefit), was named, by Canadians, as the greatest Canadian ever.