Canada Explained

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I'll agree with sartresue's comment regarding our previous GG. At least she gave Canada a good image. Unlike mister Harper. <.<

I wouldn't mind a coalition, if it'll get conservatives to stop acting like they own the country when they're in a minority situation. =.=

Edited because i went to read wikipedia regarding the topic of poutine, and amusingly it is quite widespread across the world. <.< Even Japan has some in a restaurant called "The Maple Leaf at Tokyo", where it is called "Putchin". Amusingly, i don't think there's any in Russia... :>

The Governor General only ever dissolves Parliament on the request of Parliament itself (that is, either the Prime Minister asks him/her to do it or the opposition wins a vote of non-confidence in which case it is customary for him/her to do it.) The Queen/Governor General really does have only a ceremonial role in practice. And although non-confidence votes do have the irritating tendency to cause frequent elections, they do have the upside of blocking bad budgets and of getting rid of an ineffective parliament.

Also, living in Canada I can tell you that HARDLY ANYONE goes to the USA for Health Care. Those who do are usually very rich or require some sort of experimental/specialist treatment not available in Canadian research hospitals. On the other hand, everyone who needs it gets health care in Canada whether they are a billionaire or a pauper. You would be hard-pressed to find a Canadian (at least an average Canadian, outside of Alberta) who would want the American health system.

This

Aye. Sounds like a typical Faux News lie. If anything the problem we have had is Americans coming up here. That is why medicare cards (relatively speaking, and perhaps this is only a Quebec thing) recently had photos added, as many Americans with Canadian family members were gaming our system. The opposite of what many anti-healthcare, or what they should really be called, Anti-Human Dignity people, claim

Interesting about the photo-ID on medicare cards. In my province we don't do that, unless they just add them whenever the card is renewed. Mind you, I got a new one very recently and it still has no photo-ID.

I'm not sure what province you're from, AstroGeek, but I can tell you that British Columbia also issues care cards without photo IDs. I'm still technically an American citizen, but I have my very own BC Care Card-- I was obligated to get it and begin paying into the Canadian healthcare system when I started attending college courses here in Vancouver.

And while we're on the subject-- the Care Card, and the treatment I've received from Canadian healthcare in general, is #272 on my personal list of "Reasons I'm Glad I Decided To Move To Canada", right above Rick Mercer.

Faux-toh generation topic

My children received photo-ID health cards (Ontario) when they were 16 years of age.

Do you live in another province?

What makes you think Albertans dislike Canadas healthcare system? No. Dont bother answering. Look at this.

http://www.health.alberta.ca/AHCIP/Q-ho ... ister.html



As individuals we have always had the option to opt out. Furthermore, we pay the premium out of pocket yearly, whereas other provinces subsume it in general taxes. If it were really unpopular, people simply wouldnt pay; they would opt out and Alberta health would be running a big deficit. Yet you dont hear this in the news. Yearly millions of conservative Albertans quietly pony up for a system they obviously believe in.

Let me reiterate that for you: Participation in Albertas health care program is entirely voluntary. Is this a little at odds with what you think? Maybe you better take another look at your belief system.

How about explaining where you got that idea?

@Fuzzy: Sorry, I didn't mean to be insulting. But the view in my area is that Albertans are less in favor of our health system than others. Not necessarily that they are all apposed, simply that you would find more people who are apposed. Really I was more saying that to cover myself in case some ignorant American tried to point out a bunch of Western Canadians who he's heard complain about Medicare.

@sartresue: No, I don't live in Ontario or Quebec. Because I'm paranoid about posing detailed information about myself online I won't say which province I do live in.

You're very likely not a patient if mine. But on behalf of my colleagues in the professions, you're welcome.

Accepted. Obviously the view in your area is entirely incorrect. The fact that participation is voluntary means that we cannot under any rational circumstances resent it. Its less like a tax and more like a user fee. If you want to find somewhere that it is opposed, I suggest looking somewhere that people are having it forced upon them. That place is obviously not Alberta.

Here's a chance for this thread to get back on topic! Discuss the meeting / debate / battle of the chefs in whichever of the two official languages it took place. =P (Or we can start with the english one, seeing as the french one is due tomorrow)

Debate replay topic

Nuts. I forgot to watch the English one. My French is more the readable variety. Phil, is there a transcript of the English one? Or will I have to rely on news edits?

I haven't found one, but the video is shown on CBC's website... =/ http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/canadav ... rs-debate/ (It's the first one)

Debate debacle topic

Thanks for the link. I watched three sections of the debates so far, and will finish the rest tomorrow. So far the attacks have been well founded, civil, and to the point. harper is holding up, but i am hoping that people will see that his version of governance/leadership is not working, and elect either Iggy or Layton. Obviously Duceppe is out of the question, as is Elizabeth May.

I think one could make a pretty effective drinking game out of Harper's repetition of, "that is simply not true." Except that then one would have to watch it all over again.

I thought it was entirely too timid and too scripted an affair. Leaders would pay lip service to a question and then return to their carefully scripted, focus-group-approved talking points. No one took any risks, and so no one made any gains. I expect the French language debate will be a much more interesting affair, because there is less at stake.

High point of the evening: