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Wednesday March 1, 2023

March 1, 2023 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday March 1, 2023

Sliding toward a new reality in health care

January 17, 2023

According to an Ipsos opinion poll released in February, more Canadians than ever are open to the idea of private-sector delivery of publicly-funded health-care service. Not only did the poll find 59 per cent of respondents support private delivery, 60 per cent supported the idea of private care for those who can afford it.

But wait — just a couple of months earlier half of the respondents to an Angus Reid Institute poll said more private care options would a negative impact on the system, with only 32 per cent believing private options would improve things.

Vagaries of methodology and ideology aside, what’s going on here. Could both things be true? Neither?

It’s a relevant discussion as Ontario and other provinces look to the private sector to deliver more services, reducing wait times and allowing more people to get needed care. But how much private-sector involvement is too much? When does the Canada Health Act, the blueprint for universal health care, become more of a suggestion than the rule?

It certainly doesn’t help when governments, in particular the Ontario government, are more interested in promoting their preferred ideological and political outcome than in providing straight answers.

August 19, 2022

Consider Premier Doug Ford’s promise that Ontarians will always be able to access care with their “health card not a credit card.” Lovely sentiment, but is it true?

There is a lot of private-sector delivery of health services already in the market, so no one can credibly claim private delivery doesn’t work. But increasingly there are some grey areas that should make us worry.

For example, consider the pediatric practice in Toronto that offers same-day virtual access to registered practical nurse services, but only to people willing to pay a monthly subscription and per visit fee. Yes, sick young patients will be seen regardless, but if you want to be sure of same-day virtual care and in-person consultation within a day or so, you need to pay.

Without casting aspersions, does that really sound like equitable access to care, as described in the Canada Health Act? Or does it sound more like real two-tier care, one tier for those who can afford it, the other for those who cannot?

January 18, 2023

There are other anecdotal examples, including some where people say they’ve been told they can get access to services and procedures, but it might take a year or more, unless they want to pay in which case they can get access in short order.

Some tiered service has existed for years now, such as in cataract surgery, where patients are offered different options for lenses, one covered by OHIP, others not and available if you can afford them or have insurance coverage.

The point here is not to denigrate services, patients or providers dealing with this changing landscape. It is that the system is evolving, in real time, without much reflection, debate or study. We’re sliding toward a different health-care universe, and it’s happening largely by stealth. That’s not the he way it should be, nor is it a prescription for success or public buy-in. (Hamilton Spectator Editorial) 

 

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: 2023-04, Doug Ford, efficiency, health care, Ontario, privatization, reform, toll route, traffic, universal access

Thursday May 12, 2022

May 12, 2022 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday May 12, 2022

Use Highway 407 to ease GTA traffic woes

Premier Doug Ford raised some eyebrows last week when he talked about highways, and actually made a lot of sense.

December 11, 2018

That’s not what we’ve become accustomed to hearing from the premier in this area. He seems bound and determined to build new highways wherever he can, no matter the financial cost and environmental consequences.

But when it comes to Highway 407, the underused, mostly private toll route across the northern GTA, Ford hit the bullseye.

“I would never have sold it,” he said. “What did they sell it for, $3 billion? And it’s worth, what, $20 billion now? So I don’t believe in selling off toll roads.”

Two things on that. First, current estimates actually put the value of Highway 407 closer to $30 billion, making the sale back in 1999 look even more foolish. And second, it was a Progressive Conservative government, the one led by Mike Harris, that sold off the highway for what we can now see amounted to a handful of beans.

But never mind. Ford wasn’t part of that government and it’s a long time ago. The essential point is that even a PC premier can now see the folly of selling a valuable public asset for far below its long-term worth.

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: 2022-16, 407, 413, Doug Ford, election, Feedback, greenbelt, highway, Ontario, traffic, Transit, wetland

Thursday November 2, 2017

November 1, 2017 by Graeme MacKay

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Thursday November 2, 2017

Ontario MPP proposes law to fine distracted pedestrians

A new private member’s bill that would see distracted pedestrians fined up to $50 for crossing the road while using their smartphones was unveiled at Ontario’s Legislature on Monday.

The “Phones Down, Heads Up Act” will be introduced by Toronto MPP Yvan Baker, with a debate set for next March. The representative for Etobicoke Centre, in the city’s west end, said he was prompted to draft the legislation after his constituents raised concerns about the number of pedestrian deaths in Toronto.

In 2016, 42 pedestrians were killed on the city’s streets, the most since 2002.

Baker’s bill would ban people from looking at their phones or electronic devices when crossing roads, with an initial $50 fine for the first offence, $75 for the second and up to $125 for the third. Exceptions would include pedestrians making an emergency call or if they began speaking on the phone before stepping into the crosswalk.

“These fines are modest and are meant to act as a deterrent,” Baker said during a news conference Monday morning. He was joined by Brian Patterson, chief executive of the Ontario Safety League, a group whose work includes pedestrian advocacy. The organization is endorsing the bill.

The legislation would also mandate a ministry of transportation-led annual distracting driving awareness campaign, with a focus on texting and driving.

“This bill is about raising awareness about risky behaviour because limiting that behaviour will save lives,” Baker said. (Source: CBC News) 

 

Posted in: Ontario Tagged: civility, courtesy, driving, Ontario, pedestrians, society, texting, traffic

Saturday September 3, 2016

September 2, 2016 by Graeme MacKay
Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Saturday September 3, 2016 Why There's a 'U' in Labour Day Canada, Labour Day, Summer, traffic, back to school, job, closures,dress, white, Justin Trudeau, shirtless

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator  Saturday September 3, 2016

Why There’s a ‘U’ in Labour Day

  

Posted in: Canada Tagged: back to school, Canada, closures, dress, job, Justin Trudeau, Labour Day, shirtless, Summer, traffic, white

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

August 5, 2014 by Graeme MacKay

Wednesday, August 6, 2014By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Bad Drive, Good Flight

After five days of traffic nightmares, the Burlington Skyway has reopened.

The Ministry of Transportation made the announcement on Monday at 3 p.m. after removing four damaged vehicles from the bridge, making temporary repairs, and removing all debris.

Friday, February 21, 2014All lanes opened at around 6 p.m. after workers paved a 60-metre stretch and repainted the road lines.

According to the MTO, permanent repairs still need to be made, including the fabrication and installation of a new steel beam to replace the one that was damaged in Thursday’s crash. That work will be done at night over the next two months to ensure any lane reductions will have a minimal impact on traffic.

Astrid Poei from MTO said it is too early to estimate the cost of damages, but it could run into the millions.

“This is not a cheap endeavour,” said Poei.

The Toronto-bound lanes of the Skyway were closed on Thursday afternoon after a dump truck with its box open struck the overhead truss of the bridge.

Sukhvinder Singh Rai, 34, of Brampton, faces impaired driving charges and is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 22.

In the aftermath of the crash, traffic was diverted to Eastport Drive, the Red Hill Valley Parkway, the Linc, Burlington Street and Fruitland Road. David Ferguson, superintendent of traffic engineering for the city, said the impact was felt throughout the city, including on the Mountain. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Meanwhile, Major roads and highways have reopened Tuesday in the wake of severe flash flooding across Burlington and parts of Halton Region over the Civic holiday.

Burlington was hit with the equivalent of two months of rainfall in one day.

According to Environment Canada, 150 millimetres fell in highly localized areas Monday night. Another 20 millimetres was expected. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

Meanwhile, Hamilton’s Lancaster has safely landed at Goose Bay, Labrador, finishing the first leg of its journey to England.

According to a tweet from Matthew Munson, who paid $79,100 in an eBay auction for a seat on the historic trip, the bomber “landed at Goose Bay after a few fly pasts. What an epic journey here.”

On Wednesday the plane is scheduled to fly to Keflavik, Iceland, and continue from there to RAF Coningsby in England on Friday. Over its six-week tour, the bomber will take part in a series of air shows, many of which will also feature the world’s only other airworthy Lancaster owned by the RAF.

The celebrated Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum plane took off from Hamilton shortly after 10 a.m. Tuesday before a crowd of hundreds of cheering onlookers. (Source: Hamilton Spectator)

 

Posted in: Hamilton Tagged: 403, Burlington, Editorial Cartoon, Hamilton, Lancaster, Skyway Bridge, traffic
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This website contains satirical commentaries of current events going back several decades. Some readers may not share this sense of humour nor the opinions expressed by the artist. To understand editorial cartoons it is important to understand their effectiveness as a counterweight to power. It is presumed readers approach satire with a broad minded foundation and healthy knowledge of objective facts of the subjects depicted.

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