First, let me say how very lucky I feel to live in Canada. Universal medical care is enshrined in law via the Canada Health Act. Certain exceptions exist, dental, optical, psychiactric, but it sure beats the horror stories coming from those of you in the United States. It's sad, really, but unfortunately, there's a movement afoot in this country to more closely model that of the US rather than the other way around.

Where the system leaks is with regard to care of patients with chronic mental heath problems. Due to financial concerns, even the contstraints by which patients may be released from mental hospitals have been relaxed in order to open up beds.

To be honest, it's very difficult to find anything to complain about. The real whiners still manage to groan about long wait times at hospitals and other such quality of service issues, and I am inclined to agree, but compared to just about the entire rest of the planet we have it pretty good. Further, most companies of any remotely reasonable size have a group health plan of modest price which covers most prescription costs, including glasses.

All that having been said, we nevertheless have a terrible record with the poor. Whether on disablilty or welfare (or Social Assistance as the pc would have it) the poverty line hangs over you like a noose. Employment insurance is not much better, being no more than 55% of your former income. That means if you can't work due to illness, or can't find a job in any event, the income you receive from the government is just not enough to sustain a person to a reasonable standard. A friend of mine who is on disablility on a permanent basis tells me she gets all her meals from soup kitchens. Still, I am certain is not as bad as our neighbours to the south have it.