Mr. Speaker, a snapshot of Canada's health care system today reveals a very puzzling and disturbing picture.
We have a new, comprehensive study of half a million patients showing that death rates in for profit kidney dialysis clinics are 8% higher than in non-profit clinics.
There is health commissioner Romanow saying that the option of more profit driven care defies logic and that the evidence just is not there to back it up.
At the same time, we have the privatizing premiers, Campbell, Klein and Eves, racing to put health care up for sale, and Senator Kirby, a board member of a private health company, solemnly recommending even more privatizing.
Health is Canadians' number one concern. We are at a critical decision point in our history, yet the picture gets blurry when it comes to the government's stand on for profit care. The health minister is missing altogether and is not in the picture.
Where is the government on privatization? Where is the health minister? “Where's Waldo?”