Re: Anthonie Den Boef’s letter (The NEWS, May 21).
He may be speaking for himself and the one per cent who would like to go to the front of the line and can afford it, but he’s certainly not speaking for me, nor the average Canadian, nor the Canadian Doctors for Medicare (CDM).
Here are some important facts presented by the CDM that should disabuse Canadians of the misinformation/propaganda spewed forth from the proponents of privatized healthcare:
• for-profit clinics “cherry pick” the healthiest patients who are the cheapest to treat.
• if you become too sick, they send you back to the public system.
• for-profit clinics lengthen wait times by draining the public system of health professionals.
• for-profit clinics only exist where there is money to be made. Money is the priority, not your health as it should be.
When talking to people about the above I find it very discouraging that many of them don’t seem to understand or care about what the destruction of our healthcare system means for their children and grandchildren.
The third point above alone (which is just common sense) should be enough to set off alarm bells for anyone who has given this issue even rudimentary consideration.
It may already be too late but every concerned British Columbian should at least let their MLA and premier know that they support the CDM and do not support privatized healthcare.
James PatersonQualicum Beach