President, the Canadian Medical Association
His organization represents Canada's approximately 53,000 doctors.
All his responses:
1) I think the biggest thing that needs changing today is the uncertainty Canadians have about their health-care system. They question whether or not it will be there for them in the future when they need it.
The other major thing that most needs changing is "health human resources," including doctors, nurses and other health-care specialists. The numbers are down, they're desperate. We know there are major concerns now and into the future.
2) I think the system need more money. Even if weren't to expand existing services we would still need more money to continue doing what we're doing today. But this money could come from existing budgets.
If on the other other hand you want to expand existing services, whether it be pharacare or homecare, new revenues will have to be generated through such measures as an special surtax on income.
We're not big fans of dedicated taxes for the long-term, only for the short-term for such things as bricks and mortar, or diagnostic equipment.
3) I'm an optimist so when I look 10 years down the road I feel that with leadership and with careful planning we will have a publicly funded health-care system that will be viable and continue to respond to the needs of the public.
But if we don't have bold political leadership and a plan in place than I think we will have failed Canadians. I don't think that will happen, but I think that is the potential. The measure of failure will be the private provision, private financing, of services. I don't think it will happen.