Monday, November 02, 2009

Is it health care, stupid?

If there’s been one challenge for the Liberal Party during these years in opposition … ok, scratch that. One of the many challenges for the Liberal Party during these years in opposition has been our inability to move past the tactical attack and build a strategic narrative.

By that, I mean we focus in narrowly and mightily on an ever-changing parade of stories of the day and scandals du jour, letting them dominate our time, our messaging and our media. We get ourselves psyched-up each time that this will be game-changer: isotopes, cancer is sexy, stimulus funding, giant cheques, H1N1, to name but a few. Inevitably, after an initial flurry of coverage, the story dies away and we’re back to square one, looking for the next home-run opportunity.

Governments, however, are rarely (if ever) defeated by home-runs, and a focus on tactical attacks isn’t going to score runs in the long-run. A death by a thousand cuts alone could take a thousand years. Tactical attacks are important, but without trying it into a larger strategy you’re not going to get anywhere. And we haven’t. We're just flailing about.

But take a look at many of the tactical issues where we’ve tried to gain traction over the last year: listeria and food safety, medical isotopes, preparing for the Chalk River shut-down, H1N1 and flu pandemic preparation. There’s a common thread emerging here: health care. It's traditionally a strong Liberal issue, and one that is still at the top of public concern.

Certainty, as the headlines show this morning the H1N1 issue is rife for tactical attack against the Harper government:

Flu 'fiasco' fault of feds
Minister unhappy over vaccine
H1N1 vaccine supplies slow
Long lineups, vaccine shortage beset Week 2 of swine flu campaign
Pandemic straining Canada's public-health services
Signs of frustration as Canadians seek H1N1 vaccine

And Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq and the Harper government’s handling of the crisis is getting poor media reviews. From CTV’s Question Period yesterday:

JANE TABER: What did you take from the interview that Craig did with the Health Minister? What have we learned, anything?

GREG WESTON (Sun Media): I think the first thing that I was struck with, Jane, pardon the expression, is, I thought it was about as compassionate as a needle in the arm. You know here we have people who are standing in line for six, seven hours, being turned away, after months of being told that they had to get out and get the swine flu shot. Now we've had a couple of unfortunate deaths, parents who are understandably desperately worried about their kids, and they're being told that it's a jurisdictional issue, or they're being told, well, that's the provinces' responsibility, it's not the federal responsibility. I mean this is exactly what will make people throw things at their television, I think. You know, this is the worst side of government is a lack of compassion, when they get too locked up in process and they forget how do we help these people out there, and no government is answering that, and, frankly, the communications on this, as Craig pointed out on a few times, have just resulted in mass confusion and now panic.
So as I said, certainly an issue ripe for tactical attack. But without context, without placing this issue in a larger strategic picture, then H1N1 will join the long list of issues the Liberals huffed and puffed about for a few weeks that will simply fade away over time, leaving the Conservatives little to no the worse for the wear.

And there is a larger picture to be painted here, because there is a common thread to be identified here: health care. When it comes to issues of public health and safety the Conservatives just aren’t getting the job done. They bungled food safety. They knew Chalk River was on its last legs, but they did little to nothing to explore and secure alternative medical isotope sources. When it was unexpectedly (but inevitably) shut down, they had no viable alternative plan to ensure cancer screening continued. And with everyone knowing H1N1 was going to be a major challenge this fall, the government bungled the preparation despite months of prep-time, leaving us looking like boobs compared to our global peers.

It’s not enough to just focus on H1N1 and the government’s incompetence preparing for the crisis. Tie it into a larger historical pattern of incompetence and use it as a springboard to talk about wider Conservative inaction on health care and why and how a Liberal government will make it a priority. Talk about wait times and Conservative inaction on their infamous fifth priority, talk about defending our public system when Harper is unwilling to do so, and offer some health-care related policy tidbits as examples of what the Liberals would do differently.

For a change, let’s get strategic.

Recommend this Post on Progressive Bloggers

33 comments:

Andrew P. said...

another point that can be brought up under the healthcare umbrella (as well as many other umbrella) are all the cuts to research funding (ie. CIHR) in area's for treating and more importantly, preventing the illnesses that make people need health care in the first place.

Michael J. Murphy said...

Last time I checked the constitution the Provinces were responsible for health care. Your good Liberal bud here in Ontario Dalton the Tax Ripper has just given priority to prisoners over everyone else including those who guard them.

Liberals have interesting logic. Why don't you ask Dalton to get his Soo MPP, David Oriazzetti, to provide him with a report on a community response to the pandemic that has electronic health records, electronic appointments for flu shots, no chaos, no line-ups and is, in fact, so orderly it receives no notice.

Maybe Dalton won't waste another Billion bucks. Now that is incompetence with a capital "I".

Ted Betts said...

Murphy:

It is the federal government's responsibility to get order, approve and distribute the vaccine.

It is not the federal government's responsibility to pass the buck and blame parents, the drug manufacturer, the provinces and everyone else but themselves.

Stephen "Pass the Buck" Harper needs to step up to the plate here.

Gayle said...

"Last time I checked the constitution the Provinces were responsible for health care."

Think again.

"...the Peace, Order and Good Government section of the Constitution Act, 1867 (commonly referred to as the “POGG clause”)grants the federal government the power to legislate in areas outside its normal jurisdiction in times of national emergency. In the context of health care, this would include the power to legislate whenever health issues affect the nation as a whole or becomes a problem beyond a province’s ability to deal with it, such as in the event of a widespread epidemic. Under such circumstances, the federal government may assume control over health care delivery temporarily."

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/features/canadian-federalism-and-public-health-care-evolution-federal-provincial-relations

All of the issues Jeff mentions would fall under POGG.

RuralSandi said...

Boy the Michael J. Murphy's of the world just can't face facts - unbelievable. It's a "global" pandemic situation and "Federal" governments/WHO are the responsible.

No one seem to ask/talk about when Butler-Jones said they had a hint there would be a shortage - when did they get that hint and did they inform the provinces of the possibility?

wilson said...

The feds did set out a priorty plan , for the provinces, for the H1N1 flu shot,
back in September.

The provinces should have followed the feds guidelines,
and set up specific clinics for specific risk groups,
instead of the free for all it turned into.

Those bus loads of seniors should have received the seasonal flu,
not the H1N1 vaccine.

Pregnant women and children under 18 should have been first,
(on a voluntary basis, not in schools as has been suggested).

Doctors, with their patient charts in hand, should have given the shots, in office, to those with medical conditions.

But that's all hind sight,
and there still would have been line ups.

Michael J. Murphy said...

@Gayle said..."

Thanks for the Liberal lesson in Constitutionality 101. Why don't you pass that on to Dalton and the Premier of Quebec to see if they are willing to allow the feds to take control. I'd certainly like to see it!!!!! Maybe they would reduce the PST 2 points before Dalton's tax and grab run next year. :)

After you get an earful perhaps then you can find some other hair brained idea to foist on the populous. While your at it get some experience in pragmatism poli-sci 101 before you get too involved in politics. Ever hear of NEP and your good mentor PET. That was a very Liberal idea foisted on the provinces too! I recall Alberta didn't like it too much.

No matter how you try and rationalize it most countries have similar supply/demand concerns and in Ireland they are only getting underway today. They do appear to be more organized but time will tell. The USA has a similar supply chain problem with great demand.

Dalton is screwing up again and that's the real pandemic. But he's not alone as other Provinces appear to be as unprepared. At least they didn't give the 3 time losers in prison priority (like Dalton has) over the prison employees and the vulnerable groups pre-identified by the Feds and the Provinces last summer. What happened to that I wonder once the Provinces had to implement. I guess they don't know how to triage especially the inept roll out last week in Ontario! (see my first post regarding Sault Ste. Marie for someone who has already created the wheel).

According to the logic here the Provincial Gov't. needs hand holding by the senior government just like feminists are needing the nanny state to protect them from the patriarchy. I see parallels here! :)

Just saying...

Gayle said...

You said that health care is a provincial responsibility and thus Harper has no responsibility for this fiasco. I pointed out you are wrong. You reply with a diatribe and a totally irrelevant insult to feminisists.

In any event, I think McGuinty is smart enough to understand the constitutional principles at play. He probably recognizes there is a federal minister of health too. Finally, he probably recognizes the feds have been involved with this issue for several months now. Oddly enough, he never said a thing about the constitutional inappropriateness of their conduct. Maybe that is because he understands they have a responsibility here.

The feds are screwing up. They are trying to deflect this on the provinces. You are clearly buying that line.

Michael J. Murphy said...

@ Gayle - I obviously knwo more about the constitutional make up of the country than you and the appropriate division of powers. You are clearly mistaken. and I won't get into a juvenile discussion with you on it.

Because you would argue black is white on matters constitutional you appear to be ideologically subsumed by Liberal rhetoric and dogma and I do not debate ideologues. There is no point.

Rotterdam said...

I spoke with family in the Netherlands, they have to wait a few more weeks before they start getting the shot.

I am glad we do not live under that liberal piece of perfection Barrack Obama.They have delivered 8%. Compared to 20% in Canada. We are the envy south of the border.

Obama adviser David Axelrod on NPR
"we overpromised"

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=114351010&ps=cprs

CanadianSense said...

Why are Liberal afraid of simple math or logic?

6 million doses delivered to provinces and territories.

The Plan is a recommendation only and negoitiated the needle pokers sequence the highest priority first.

Best case scenario now 9 days we have burned through 1 million doses?

Where did the 5 million go?

If the "medical staff" consume serious amounts of coffe and continue the rate how many more days before the 5 million is exhausted?

Doh, we have an example of the news and opposition parties making up another "crisis" without simple checking of FACTS.

The bad supplier will only deliver 400 next week, the horror!

Let's scare the public and pick a scapegoat!

Clinics closed on Sunday!

5 million samples still exist....

Perhaps the frontline "staff" who have already taken care of themselves and family are not interested in working overtime on Sunday?

Look for those long lines next week!

CanadianSense said...

This is my 2nd post, first may have been not submitted.

Simple math problem in 9 days how muc of the six million does have been used?

Did the provinces and territories ship to the local health officials?

Is anyone suggesting more than a million doses have been used?

So why is supply an issue?

1 million per 8 days?
5 million will take another ???

Andrew P. said...

tjeerd..thats still 4x the number of Americans who have already been vaccinated then Canadians, and given it can only be produced at a certain rate, its understandable.

The Conservative government on the other hand has said one thing, delivered far less, and unlike the US, have left Canadians in the dark for the most part when it comes to information. Whereas we know more than we ever needed or wanted to know about the EAP and that is a problem.

CanadianSense said...

Andrew

you read the post incorrectly.


The US is below per capita is supply.

We are much higher in vaccine on hand with or provincial and local health officials.

April 30 First Wave Story Experts on H1N1
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090429/WHO_panic_090429/20090429?hub=TopStories

Michael J. Murphy said...

We did have a national protocol to inject those identified vulnerable groups first but as good Canadians we decided that triage wasn't really all that important and then did anyone who asked. Now the Provincial and County medical health units look incompetent.

Planning is designed to try and reach approved goals. I would suggest next time stick to the plan. If we have stuff left over we can still put it to good use somewhere in the world in all probability.

Other countries are just rolling out their programs this week and also have identified vulnerable groups as first priorities. They can learn from our mistakes. Our neighbour to the south is having the same problems we are. We are not alone.

Lets get on with the triage and stop being nice guys. I want my shot when my appointment comes on Nov. 23/09 at 4:00 pm.

Yes in Sault Ste. Marie we do it using electronic records (they existed before Dalton blew the billion bucks) and we have an electronic appointment process. No lineups, no standing, no chaos. It has existed for a very long time. Why don't others learn from those who have already invented the wheel?

Gayle said...

"I obviously knwo more about the constitutional make up of the country than you and the appropriate division of powers. You are clearly mistaken."

Do you have anything to back this up? I wonder, because I did show you the courtesy of providing a link. You have not even taken the time to delineate exactly how I am mistaken.

You should know the link and quote I provided summarize the way in which POGG has been interpreted by the SCC and the Privy Council. Maybe you can reference those cases in your response.

Thanks

rockfish said...

Ignore the pathetically panicky CONbots here. Jeff's painted a too-true picture of a government -- hey, why do you think they have a HEALTH minister if not to deal with health, you morons!?! -- that is too wrapped in a hidden ideology to deal with issues as they arise in a clean and open fashion.
If its not intentionally using fear and panic to force a tired, dilapidated nuclear reactor online when it should be under maintenance, it is talking about 'cancer' as being sexy and making jokes about an illness which killed many Canadians. Now you've got plenty of evidence over the last few months of MPs and the so-called leader Harper traveling across the country with his big novelty cheque dispenser, pumping megabucks into advertising its own rosey picture of money that came out of Canadians pockets. At the same time everyone and their dog knew about the upcoming flu season, about the warnings of pandemic from WHO, knew that a simple and well-repeated message plus a clear plan for distribution was required.
You've now got people confused, ministers confusing, and panic. And where's Harper? He's not even clear on whether he's going to be having his children or himself immunized. How's that for leadership?

Michael J. Murphy said...

Gayle:

The separation of powers is pretty clear when it comes to Health Care. Canada's Health Act C-6 starts as follows:

Canada Health Act

C-6

An Act relating to cash contributions by Canada and relating to criteria and conditions in respect of insured health services and extended health care services
Preamble
WHEREAS the Parliament of Canada recognizes:
—that it is not the intention of the Government of Canada that any of the powers, rights, privileges or authorities vested in Canada or the provinces under the provisions of the Constitution Act, 1867, or any amendments thereto, or otherwise, be by reason of this Act abrogated or derogated from or in any way impaired;

Canada - meaning the feds - have responsibility typically for areas under its direct jurisdiction which includes the 3 Territories, First Nations and the military. It has delegated some of those responsibilities to the Territories.

Provincial Governments implement Health Care in their jurisdictions. They receive transfer payments from the feds to help with running these operations. The Act above puts this in law.

They do cooperate and help planning and this pandemic did have a plan as I earlier stated but it was not implemented properly. It looks like Dalton is taking steps now to correct that.

We are learning valuable lessons from this that I hope stay in the corporate memory of the feds and provincials. Not only do you have to plan properly, you need the tools in place to execute the plan in a cohesive fashion.

This should be non-partisan to benefit the country not a political stick to wave around. I am most unimpressed with the political posturing. It could backfire on Iggy - again.

Education is also split for the same reasons.

The Act lives here. http://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/C-6/page-1.html#anchorbo-ga:s_2


@rockfish said..
Try and stay on topic here bud. The issue is Health Care associated with H1N1 not nuclear reactors. Try and stay away from the name calling and other idiocy. You give Libs a worse name than currently exists.

By the way I'm not ideologically predisposed toward any party with the exception of the fringes including the socialists. With members such as Bob Rae in the Libs, who is a very pragmatic socialist I sometime can't tell the difference, however.

CanadianSense said...

Michael J. Murphy,

Gayle believes in a bigger federal government in Ottawa with more powers and more taxation.

She believe the AB provincial government is the most corrupt in Canada.

She is terrified the CPC who have been working diligently in NOT abusing the division of power and respecting each province.

Healthcare H1N1 is just a ruse for many people who are attacking the CPC and taking cheap shots.

They refuse to talk about actual facts or details. They prefer to introduce side arguments about EAP.

They refuse to accept the "As Seen on TV" is not the National experience of this rollout.

AB and Ontario screwed up last week but have fixed it. It is over and they are now back on the recommended sequence plan.

Desperate forces need a "crisis" to demonize the federal government.
H1N1 is just one more example why some politicians and media outlets are unfit to govern and not worth watching for the truth or newsworthy information.

Gayle said...

Michael - the Act is all well and good, but as I pointed out, the constitution (which is supreme in this country), has been interpreted by the Privy Council and the SCC to mean the feds have authority over health care in certain situations.

The constitution, and the case law interpreting it, trumps your interpretation of the Act.

Michael J. Murphy said...

Gayle:

Sorry it doesn't work that way. I used to work for the Feds back in the day and we become fully aware of the constitutional separation of powers. Don't try and tell the Premieres the Feds can intervene. They will be most unhappy with you.

The Feds are the senior government in Canada and can use the levers of power for a great many things but our system is one of laws, order and good government.

For example no provincial Law can directly apply to the Feds without the express agreement of the feds - such as Provincial Sales Taxes but they do develop mechanisms to cooperate about such things after negotiation. Enough Constitutional Law lectures for now. Gotta go debate some folks over at the National Post.

Nice try though.

Enjoy and best wishes.

Gayle said...

I see.

Well don't take my word for it then. How about if you take the word of the government of Canada:

"While there is no explicit reference to legislative power over health generally in the Constitution Act, 1867, there are references to certain aspects of health. Parliament, for example, was granted exclusive jurisdiction over quarantine and marine hospitals (section 91(11)), and provincial legislatures were granted exclusive jurisdiction over the “Establishment, Maintenance, and Management of Hospitals, Asylums, Charities, and Eleemosynary Institutions in and for the Province, other than Marine Hospitals” (section 92(7)). Other constitutional powers have been used to further assign health-related subjects to either Parliament (the spending power, the criminal law power, and the “peace, order and good government” power) or the provincial legislatures (property and civil rights, and matters of a merely local or private nature).(6) As a result, Parliament and the legislatures have shared jurisdiction over health.

Jurisdiction over public health is also shared between Canada and the provinces. The federal jurisdiction is clear with respect to quarantine at its borders, while provinces govern local public health matters under the provincial power to regulate with respect to “property and civil rights,” which courts have interpreted as including common law tort, contract and property rights.(7) ...

The federal criminal law power is the basis for federal management of infectious disease outbreaks. As was articulated in the Reference re Validity of Section 5(1) of the Dairy Industry Act (the Margarine Reference), a prohibition is validly a criminal law if it is “enacted with a view to a public purpose … [such as] public peace, order, security, health, morality.”(11)

Federal jurisdiction over the management of infectious disease outbreaks could also arguably be based on the peace, order and good government power.(12) That power has two branches: an emergency branch, which, in times of emergency, allows Parliament to enact laws that would normally lie within the jurisdiction of provincial legislatures; and a national dimensions branch, which allows Parliament to make laws in areas that concern Canada as a whole."

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/LegislativeSummaries/Bills_ls.asp?lang=E&ls=c5&source=library_prb&Parl=39&Ses=1

That last paragraph sums things up nicely. In my next post I will explain why the Government of Canada takes the position that POGG gives them authority over infectious disease outbreaks.

Gayle said...

In a case called Reference re Anti-Inflation Act, 1976 CanLII 16 (S.C.C.), [1976] 2 S.C.R. 373, the Court held:

"...the peace, order and good government power should be confined to justifying (i) temporary legislation dealing with a national emergency (p. 459) and (ii) legislation dealing with "distinct subject matters which do not fall within any of the enumerated heads of s. 92 and which, by nature, are of national concern" (p. 457). In the Labatt case, supra, at pp. 944-45, Estey J. divided this second heading into (i) areas in which the federal competence arises because the subject matter did not exist at the time of Confederation and cannot be classified as of a merely local and private nature and (ii) areas where the subject matter "goes beyond local or provincial concern or interests and must from its inherent nature be the concern of the Dominion as a whole"."

National emergency - national concern...

Most people would say H1N1 falls into that category. Obviously the feds think so since they are taking jurisdiction in the situation. Incompetently, but still taking jurisdiction.

I hope that clears things up for you.

CanadianSense said...

Jeff the Liberals have not been strategic about their criticism for a very long time.

You can post 10 headlines suggesting the Liberals will benefit from trying to score points for politicizing this serious issue.

Tom Flanagan's lesson about plausible meme holds true.

In September Nik Nanos polled Canadians on many Files or ballot questions in which the Liberals did not hold one including Health.

Being a partisan you may think regular Canadians are going to accept this version of reality.

Unfortunately this "strategic" attack again goes directly after the provincial and municipal officials who are working in cooperation with the Federal Government.

Like EAP it forced Mayors, University Presidents, Deputy Premier, Local Councillors, Provincial representative to distance themselves from the Federal Liberals "strategic" accusations/attacks.

The "math", division of power, using deaths, aboriginals as props will backfire.

The public will hold each opposition party equally responsible if they continue to play games.

(That includes Hudak, Horvath in Ontario)

Jeff said...

Jeff the Liberals have not been strategic about their criticism for a very long time.

So you grasped the point I was making then, it would seem.

As for Liberals politicizing, I call bullshit. The job of the opposition is to critique the performance of the government. To not do so, particularly on an issue as important as this, would be an abdication of responsibility.

And as long as I keep reading Conservatives saying this is all the Liberals fault for assorted made-up reasons, I'm going to keep calling bullsit when those same people moan of politicization. Bullshit.

CanadianSense said...

Jeff,

I am a former "Rat Pack" Liberal who left after John Nunziata was asked to leave by JC over the GST.

Never voted for PC party.

Many Canadians voted for the Liberals for various reasons. Some for specific promises in the Redbook. Some voted for the Liberals because they were unhappy with the current government. Some bases were immigrants who became loyal to the government in power at the day.

No one credible is suggesting the official opposition is to ROLL over and NOT hold the gov't to account.

I like many Canadians simply don't swallow the spin from each political party.

I don't support the GM bailout, but that is not enough reason to vote Liberal next time.

I did not like the Income Trust flip, lost some money but not enough to vote Liberal.

I think EAP is too big too fast and millions are going to be wasted.

Jeff my problem is NO other party is calling for less spending.

You pointed to a serious problem within the Liberal Party months ago. That internal problem is real and has not ended with the latest leader.

A number of voters, votings blocks will move between the two major parties when we think the gov't has "screwed up" and the other party represents a better alternative.

In the four years or just 12 months what alternative "Policy" has the official opposition challenged the government with inside the HOC?

Following the in the footsteps of the NDP of withdrawal of support in Sudbury shed a few more points.

The NDP reacted switched roles and benefitted by tapping into the "CASE" for an election has not been made.

Public know it was survival of their own skin.

The Bloc and NDP for the most part have not joined the Liberals in the rhetoric of H1N1.

The Federal Liberals need the support of the Provincial cousins. The Provincial Liberals are responsible and trying to coordinate the "plan".

Trying to paint the Federal Government on a shared file and crisis will NOT yeild the benefit you desire unless your CASE is solid or can use a laser.

A "grenade" strategy will not work on a shared file by introducing examples that are the responsibility of the provinces and local health officials.

(Line ups, amount of clinics, etc)

I wish you would do a poll-focus group on Lib Blogs with only the HOSTS on the merits strengths of the case.

CanadianSense said...

Jeff,

The $ 56,000 contribution to the LPC for the sole contract awarded to the single source supplier.

Plausible theory will hold up?

-example of what will "blow back" in the minds of voters for drawing our attention.

Jeff said...

single source supplier

One, it's not an exclusive contract. That's borne out by the fact the government went to Australia to procure more vaccine.

Second, for the yearly normal flu one contract is probably sufficient. But for a pandemic that you were well aware for many months was coming, relying on a single supplier is more questionable.

With a pandemic coming, the government could and should have acted. It didn't. And it can try to blame the Liberals, the provinces, or even the Canadian people, but it can't abdicate its own responsibility for pandemic planning.

CanadianSense said...

Jeff,

I have made several specific examples where I can publicly disagree with my government.

I can also find specific support in the opposition to push and challenge the government.

The government is not perfect they are making mistakes, only hard core partisans believe any single party has all the best solutions.

My point is this issue-crisis is a shared responsibility. (H1N1)

In my opinion the EAP case was also not effective.

Is anyone suggesting the Federal Government is beyond making a mistakes?


The AG has just released a report listing serious issues.

The "blow back" in Sept-October being reflected in the polls by the lack of credibility from the opposition in articulating a clear difference that is supportable.

A dozen rhetorical speeches not widely covered, a pink book, press releases, one day issue summit does not win over the public.

Jeff said...

A dozen rhetorical speeches not widely covered, a pink book, press releases, one day issue summit does not win over the public

Which was actually the point of this post -- move beyond just point attacks to build a contextual case -- so why you're arguing with me on that I don't know.

Michael J. Murphy said...

Gayle:

You are making my case for me. The Feds have emergency powers and must use great discretion in using them. They also have constitutional powers to fill any role where it is not specifically listed.

If you think the Feds should use emergency powers to take over other wise Provincial powers for delivery of health care for a relatively mild pandemic of H1N1 then you ought not to look for any jobs in an advisory role to the Federal Cabinet/Privy Council.

Very clearly the Provinces would take umbrage with it to the point of creating a constitutional crisis. (How fast do you want to see Quebec voting to opt out again)

Canada's role for infectious diseases is being taken with the obtaining of 50 million doses of H1N1 and coordinating priorities for those who receive it. They hold press conferences and advertise in the media. So do Provinces and local health units. The alleged shortage is a manufactured crisis. Do the math.
Six million doses delivered - in whose warehouses do they sit? How did private clinics get them? How did the Calgary Flames team jump the que. Why don't firefighters get on the short list as a vulnerable group? I want my firefighters fit and ready to rescue me. I want all first responders to be healthy. Is all this the feds fault?

We have a world class lab in Winnipeg now to more effectively identify these diseases. We have an Agriculture Department with great powers to deal with animal related diseases that can impact humans.

Somehow if you think the feds would do a better job from afar in Ottawa you didn't attend Poli Sci 101 in school or pay close attention to how they can sometimes really screw up things. They didn't do well on diagnosing our fisheries problems which is a national disaster, they can sure screw up on promoting Canada in Quebec with graft and corruption, and we have an immigration/refugee problem that is not working overly well given the number of terrorists who have gotten in over the years.

All those demonstrating Tamils were not benign immigrants or refugees.Some are Tamil Tiger cells. The ones in the boat just arrived are very likely Terrorist thugs. Hopefully they will be dealt with objectively and sent packing if they were members of the tigers.

To conclude the Fedeal Government has enormous reserve powers to suspend our civil liberties and take over Provincial jurisdiction. It exercises these infrequently for good reason. Were you around when PET did it back in the day with the then War Measures Act?

Most of the time it is used in order to transfer money to assist the Provinces who have the wherewithal to fix it. The Provinces have this knowledge but sometimes don't get it right and have to regroup. They are doing this now but don't try and excuse them for it by foisting blame elsewhere or make it a partisan issue. Dalton loves to blame the feds for almost everything. Its as though he never quite grew up.

The health and well being of Canadians should be a non-partisan matter. Conservative and Liberal governments have screwed up on this flu file whether it be in Alberta or Ontario or BC.

I said earlier if the Liberals try and make it partisan it could backfire. The sole source contract may just be the beginning. Ask the GP (general public)

CanadianSense said...

Here is concrete proof to playing games.

http://cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&pagetype=vod&lang=e&clipID=3065

Bob Rae CPAC 30 minutes in clip.

Harris Decima Poll 5-11% think we are worse than the US on H1N1 file. Look at where and demographics of highest concern.

http://www.harrisdecima.ca/sites/default/files/releases/2009/11/03/hd-2009-11-03-en365.pdf

Gayle said...

"You are making my case for me."

No, I proved you were wrong and am simply pressing the same point I have pressed all along. But I am glad to see you have finally seen the light.

"If you think the Feds should use emergency powers to take over other wise Provincial powers for delivery of health care for a relatively mild pandemic of H1N1..."

Actually, the feds think that given their conduct. They are just now trying to pass the blame for their failure onto the provinces.