Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's wife was well treated when she became ill, thanks to Canada's good medicare system.
Yes, there are challenges and they are not always easy to meet. However, we do not meet them by ripping up something that is very good. They are met by working at protecting the very values which have served Canadians so well.
It is very important that all Canadians continue to have access to the services they need, not just because they can afford to pay extra for them, but because they need them. We have to work very closely with provincial governments, which we are doing. We are going to continue to do that.
It is a question of equity and good access, not of having some get ahead in the line because they can pay more. That is not what is fair. Think of the 38 million Americans who have no insurance at all. What kind of lines are they in?