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Buffett misses mark
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011
Aug 16, 2011
Already the highest-income taxpayers — about 5% of taxpayers — pay almost 60% of U.S. income taxes. The bottom half of the population pays only 3%. So any tax increase imposed on high-income earners should be in areas where some, like Warren Buffett, are paying far less than other wealthy individuals. Warren Buffett’s 17% tax rate results only because he gets a large number of breaks that other wealthier Americans, like doctors, cannot use… The United States needs major tax reform… U.S. income taxes are complex, inefficient and highly unfair.
Tags: economy, ideology, standard of living, tax
Posted in Policy Context | No Comments »
The case against user fees
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011
Aug. 17, 2011
Re-search to date suggests two good reasons why patient-financed health care doesn’t make sense. First, user fees discourage patients from seeking both unnecessary and necessary care. This is often penny wise and pound foolish… Health care financed by patients does not save money. It transfers costs from third-party payers to patients, but the total cost is often higher… User fees may – ironically – encourage unnecessary or marginally useful care in order to make sure physicians and hospital beds stay occupied.
Tags: budget, Health, ideology, poverty, standard of living
Posted in Health Policy Context | No Comments »
Ontario’s cure for medicare: snitching
Wednesday, August 17th, 2011
Aug 17, 2011
Ontario has taken the unprecedented step of setting up a toll-free snitch line for people to report cases of illegal private health care — and says it has triggered 35 investigations in barely a month… The government has ordered 4,500 patients to be reimbursed out-of-pocket fees they had been levied by colonoscopy clinics in the last few years… “There’s no doubt in my mind that people are trying to get around (the law)…. I think it’s really important that we all protect our universal health-care system,” the Health Minister said…
Tags: budget, Health, ideology, privatization
Posted in Health Delivery System | No Comments »
Low grades for health system
Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
Aug 16, 2011
Canadians have widespread misgivings about the system, even while not fully understanding how it works. They also favour using tax incentives to encourage healthier living and eating… – Just 5% of respondents gave the system an A grade; 45% giving it a B, 36% a C, 10% a D, and 4% a failing F… – 55% rated their health as excellent or very good… even though 52% report having been diagnosed with one or more chronic diseases. – 63% favour some kind of tax-based incentive to encourage more healthy diets and lifestyles…
Tags: Health, standard of living
Posted in Health Delivery System | No Comments »
Chief Justice supports criticism of Kenney
Sunday, August 14th, 2011
Aug 13, 2011
Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin applauded the Canadian Bar Association on Saturday for protesting comments Kenney made last winter, when he said Federal Court judges weren’t toeing the line of the Harper government’s immigration policies. “…one of the elements of our commitment to the rule of law is a deep, cultural belief in and confidence in the judiciary.
Tags: ideology, immigration, multiculturalism, rights
Posted in Equality Delivery System | 1 Comment »
‘This is not about poverty, it’s about culture’: Cameron
Thursday, August 11th, 2011
Aug 11, 2011
“I hope that in the debates we have on the causes we don’t fall into a tiresome discussion about resources,” said Cameron. “When you have deep moral failures you don’t hit them with a wall of money.” … He denied that deprivation had caused the problem, saying: “This is not about poverty, it’s about culture. A culture that glorifies violence, shows disrespect to authority, and says everything about rights but nothing about responsibilities.” … But occupying the moral high ground is tricky in a country where some lawmakers and policemen have been embroiled in expenses and bribery scandals, and top bankers take huge bonuses even as the taxpayer bails out financial institutions.
Tags: crime prevention, featured, ideology, poverty, standard of living, youth
Posted in Inclusion Debates | No Comments »
Recognize the right to die
Sunday, August 7th, 2011
Aug. 5, 2011
Canadian health-care laws should never be changed to make euthanasia or assisted suicide the default option under any circumstances. The automatic presumption should remain in favour of medical treatment and prolonging life. But the law goes too far in declaring that the only way to protect the rights of the terminally ill to the longest possible life is by limiting the rights of others to make a different choice.
Tags: disabilities, Health, ideology, rights, standard of living
Posted in Child & Family Policy Context | No Comments »
How the NDP can take power
Sunday, August 7th, 2011
Aug 6, 2011
…the NDP should drop the jaded New from its name (and not restrict itself with another adjective such as “Social”); get a serious leader in the event that Jack Layton is not in a position to resume his duties… ; adopt a program that casts a net to the centre; and be prepared to spend at least one more election convincing the Liberals…, to join them in merger, as Stephen Harper enticed the Progressive Conservatives into the Canadian Alliance. At that point, Liberal Democrats would do as a name, and they could win.
Tags: ideology, participation
Posted in Governance History | No Comments »
No answers for those without pensions
Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011
Aug 2, 2011
Labour’s proposal to double CCP benefits would ensure adequate income in retirement for all working Canadians and could be phased in gradually at a modest increase in premiums. CPP premiums are not a payroll tax, and the CFIB’s continued portrayal of them as a tax is disingenuous. These premiums fund a secure pension system that is cost-efficient, well run, and the envy of many countries. Over 70% of Canadians surveyed support our proposed gradual increase to CPP contributions.
Tags: economy, ideology, pensions, rights, standard of living
Posted in Social Security Debates | No Comments »
Ottawa off the hook in tobacco lawsuits, Supreme court rules
Friday, July 29th, 2011
Jul 29, 2011
In a unanimous decision Friday, the court ruled tobacco companies should bear the full financial brunt of any future settlements in the lawsuits… Four provinces — B.C., Ontario, New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador — have launched lawsuits against tobacco companies for past, present and future health care associated with tobacco use. Four more have announced intentions to launch lawsuits of their own… Ontario is suing tobacco companies for $50 billion.
Tags: budget, Health, rights
Posted in Health Policy Context | No Comments »
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