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Oh, Canada, how could you |
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Thursday, 12 March 2009 |
On Thursday, two stories caught my attention. The first was a screaming headline in the Globe and Mail, “Chrysler threatens to pull out of Canada.” It told of the president of Chrysler LLC, Thomas LaSorda, putting a gun to the head of Canadians, saying “Cough up $2.3-billion or we will close down operations on the northern side of the 48th parallel.”
That would not be a stimulus package, to save 9,000 jobs, no it is nothing short of blackmail. Shame on Chrysler. Shame on Thomas LaSorda.
The other story, on CBC Radio One, was closer to home, Port Hawkesbury to be exact.
Twenty months ago, Hector Hinkley was diagnosed with brain cancer. The 40-year-old father of three is being kept alive by the chemotherapy drug Temodol, a drug that costs $30,000 a year. The government only covers it for six months, meaning the funding for the next series of treatments has run out.
Hector is a laid off Federal Gypsum employee and had, until his illness forced him to quit, worked as a roofer. His wife Laura works at a local call centre.
After two years of contributing their share of the cost of the chemotherapy, the purse is empty. Nothing left.
“Last month I was told the pills were not covered and I was crushed. Then when I got it back and they said I was covered and I got a letter in the mail saying I was covered for six more months. We were very excited,” Hinkley is quoted as saying on the CBC website.
“The day before I was due to start my pills they tell me I’m not covered again, so I have not much faith in the health coverage.”
So, he is left with a choice, pay for the life-extending drug or feed his family.
I actually pulled over to the side of the road, to regain my composure after listening to Hector say, “I’ll go without them, it’s a pretty easy decision to make because I’ve lived my life.” It was especially difficult listening to Laura fighting back tears while saying, “He shouldn’t have to say, ‘OK, I’ll live for another year so my family can eat,’ this is Canada.”
“Lived his life.” My God, the man is only 40 and by today’s standards probably not quite halfway on the journey from the womb to the tomb.
Canadians are fortunate, we have a good health care system. Yes it needs reforms, but looking south of the border…I tend to count my blessings.
As our population ages and the demands on health care grow, there are going to be many Hector Hinkley stories. That’s why the first reform should be pharmacare and the pharmaceutical industry.
The Federal Government will cave to Chrysler’s demands and give them their bailout money. Heck, what’s $2.3-billion.
Meanwhile, Hector Hinkley’s life will be threatened because he cannot care for his family and pay for the chemotherapy drugs. No one should have to make that choice.
But that is the choice he has made. He hopes he can beat his cancer without the drugs.
We can give away billions of our precious tax dollars in the name of saving jobs. Guess that’s more important than saving lives.
Oh Canada, how could you be so uncaring and callous.
(Al Hollingsworth is a retired journalist and broadcaster) |
