Opponents of health care reform keep warning us that we don't want to go down the road of socialized medicine and wind up with a health care system like that in Canada or England. I've dealt with both those systems and I've never had health insurance here in the U.S. that was as good. So far, the UK government hasn't responded to the widespread misrepresentations of the British National Health Service but the Canadians are beginning to respond. The New Democratic Party (Canada) "critic" assigned to follow the actions of the Canadian Ministry of Health has called for the government "to take action to counter these reprehensible and misleading representations of our nation by presenting an accurate reflection of the benefits and popularity of Canada’s public health care system." I hope they do, but I'm sure that people like Mitch McConnell and Rush Limbaugh won't allow themselves to be swayed by facts. -- (comment by David F. Duncan, DrPH)

Ms. Wasylycia-Leis' letter to the Canadian Minister of Health can be read below:

July 9, 2009

Hon. Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of Health

Dear Minister,

I am writing out of concern about the egregious misrepresentations of Canada and our public health system in the debate over the future of health care in the United States. Paid ads and materials appearing on YouTube have reportedly contained factual errors, false claims that Canadians are receiving low-quality health care and assertions that our public health care system is vastly unpopular.

I am calling on you to take action to counter these reprehensible and misleading representations of our nation by presenting an accurate reflection of the benefits and popularity of Canada’s public health care system to the American public and decision-makers. Whether appearing before legislative bodies or undertaking campaigns in popular media, it is incumbent on our federal government to promote and defend our national achievements and ensure that decisions critical to the health and well-being of others are based on sound, accurate information.

I urge you to act quickly before these negative, fundamentally anti-Canadian messages gain a stronger foothold in the American public consciousness and unduly influence decisions not only about health care but about tourism, investment and other considerations.

Looking forward to your response.

Sincerely,