Comments on: Uh, Peggy Nash, Just Because Charest likes User Fees for our Health Care System, Don’t mean Quebecers Support Them

By: Oemissions

Oemissions — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:26:09 +0000

Peggy Nash was good in the Women’s Caucus mtg at the BC NDP convention, but when I tried to talk with her about the universality of OAS, and how people with $50,000 plus are still getting it, she said, “Oh, no, that she believed in that, just tax them on it.”
That to me is a silly way to do business
Wealthy Canadians used to get the Universal Child Tax credit too

By: Logan

Logan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:35:07 +0000

Kim: I started as a strong supporter of Nash until I found her campaign vacant of policy and was one that was based on talking points, nothing more. I talked with Nathan Cullen and while I agree with his joint nomination idea I wanted a candidate who I felt not only had sound plans and policy but was a strong grassroots supporter. Hence my favoring of Paul Dewar. Yes yes, the meme of his French has spread like wild fire, but the general concensus I’ve gathered from many french speakers is that his french is improving and is very similar to Jack Layton’s colloquial, comfortable french.

Here is my ballot for you to peruse if you are so interested:
1)Dewar 2)Mulcair 3)Cullen 4)Ashton 5)Singh 6)Topp 7)Nash

By: Logan

Logan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:31:13 +0000

Sorry for the double first line above. Oops.

By: Logan

Logan — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:30:47 +0000

Peggy has since “somewhat” clarified her position stating the following:

I am glad to take any opportunity to affirm that I am unequivocally opposed to user fees in health care. Any suggestion to the contrary is a politically-motivated distraction from my solid record on this issue.

It is absolutely possible to respect the Canada Health Act *and* provincial/territorial jurisdictions. The key to this is to ensure that every province and territory has the resources it needs to maintain an accessible, publicly-funded system. As NDP leader and Prime Minister, I would do everything possible to make sure this is the case.

This discussion should not be about meddling in provincial/territorial jurisdictions – Quebec’s or otherwise. This discussion should be about the kind of federal leadership that is required to support all jurisdictions in rising to meet the standards and values we all believe in. Indeed, the Canadian identity is shaped in great part by a system of health care that is fair, accessible, and public. My leadership will be about protecting and enhancing that. Canadians deserve no less.

You will notice that nowhere in the statement does she say Quebec will not get a darn thing from the federal government if user fees are imposed; something which I had hoped to hear in the clarification I knew was coming.

So does she support them? No, but in allowing them to happen without repercussions sure begs the question: if she doesn’t support the fees but would allow them to happen under her watch and continue to let health transfers flow, how are you different from the Conservatives on healthcare?

By: Kim

Kim — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:53:05 +0000

I knew there was a reason behind my lack of warmth towards Ms. Nash.

I started out supporting Topp, by default.

Then, I became interested in the ideas put forth by Cullen, Saganash and Ashton.

Nikki Ashton is a very bright young woman. I have no doubt that she has leadership abilities and strong fresh ideas. She’s very young though.

Saganash, I could support and did, until he dropped out.

Cullen, that’s who I support. He understands the importance of co-operation to achieve victory. That signifies a statesman who can use diplomacy to achieve peace and progress. He understands the deep resistance in BC to pipelines to nowhere and understands the importance of a national energy policy that consults the stakeholders, as in, the first nations, the working class and the importance of a diversified economy that includes the manufacturing sectors in eastern canada.

All told, I find the field of candidates to be bright and potentially cohesive under the right leadership. I see great ministerial potential in this field, regardless of the outcome.