Text Box: In addition to the groups, many compelling individual presentations were made which were listened to with great respect by Mr. Romanow. At one of the final hearing days in Toronto, an excellent presentation was made by a lady who happens to be a member of the Raging Grannies. At the conclusion of her presentation, she put on her Grannie hat and sang for the chairman. Mr. Romanow, having found out that it was her birthday, responded with a solo rendition of happy birthday. The Commission received over 1900 formal submissions, and during the three weeks of public hearings, heard over 600 presentations. There were many public forums, phone-in shows on radio and television including excellent coverage by C.P.A.C. where I personally had the opportunity to express my support for medicare on a phone-in. The fundamental issues were well covered in the presentations and submissions such as: our values and principles, sustainability, enhancement of the public system, Federal and Provincial relationships, public and private relationships, private for profit services and the key question of privatization. My overall impression is that most of the presentations were well done and of good quality. However, I must mention one unfortunate highlight . It came with the presentation by Tony Clement, Minister of Health for Ontario, during the first Toronto public hearing. Presentations were limited to ten minutes. Minister Clement chose to ignore this request and went on for approximately three quarters of an hour describing the Ontario government's own so-called public consultation on health care and his own ideology. The audience became more and more restless and eventually there were definite hisses and boos. When Mr. Romanow was forced to ask for quiet, one plaintive and exasperated voice came forth loud and clear with “ Yes, but is he allowed to lie?” It was both a telling and amusing moment. Mr. Clement has since announced his government's plans to allow private for profit clinics for MRI and CT scans. These are just the sort of moves that were so vehemently

opposed in many of the presentations.

Throughout the whole process Mr. Romanow was courteous, friendly and open to all. His questions at the end of each presentation were always well thought out and to the point. He has shown a genuine and vital interest in the whole exercise. He has clearly been impressed by the passionate interest of many Canadians in “ their” health care system and he has made encouraging comments about renovating, not demolishing it. On the other hand he has had some doubtful musings in some areas. While overall indications are that the final report will contain some good recommendations, nothing is certain at this stage.

Finally, just what will become of the report and just who will be about in the Liberal government prepared to do anything with it, is even more uncertain. What is absolutely clear is that the public must keep informed, involved, and continue speaking out. The future of our public health system depends on all of us.

Editor's Note:

Derek Chadwick is an active member of Care Watch Toronto who feels passionately about his health care system.

What’s Happening at Care Watch Toronto?

· New logo

· New name for newsletter

· New editor for Newsletter

· New Web Site: www.carewatchtoronto.org

· New resources to be available. A grant just approved by the Laidlaw Foundation will enable Care Watch Toronto to enhance its efforts in support of quality in-home care.

· House Bound Project report completed. See page 3

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