The Australian government has announced a new initiative to create a ‘National Compact’ with the non-profit sector. The Obama administration has set up the Office of Social Innovation in the White House to strengthen the relationship between the federal government and the non-profit sector. The British government has a Cabinet-level Office of the Third Sector […]
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Back to the Future? Spectre of Clintoncare hangs over Obama’s Health Care Reform
As a Canadian who has studied U.S. health policy but now works as a policy analyst at the Wellesley Institute in Toronto, I find that Canadians are very interested in potential health care reforms going on South of the border. One of the questions that I am asked most frequently is what the differences are […]
Continue ReadingBack to the Future? Spectre of Clintoncare hangs over Obama’s Health Care Reform
Welcome to Canada – don’t get sick!
Canadians pride themselves on the universality of our health care system. Despite the obvious room for innovation and the need for improved health equity, we let out a sigh of relief because at least no one has to pay for care. Ever since the days of Tommy Douglas, Canadian governments have covered all medically necessary […]
Pretty words, ugly implications: deconstructing the language of advocates of health care privatization
In my July 3rd blog posting, I was critical of B.C. Health Minister Kevin Falcon’s views on financial ability as a determinant of access to health care. Now, in an article in the Times Columnist entitled A prescription for the minister of health: ‘Individual choice’ is liberal code for a market-oriented system, Vancouver psychiatrist Dr. […]
President Obama’s News Conference on Health Care Reform
Yesterday, in an attempt to win over both the American public and political opponents (both Democratic and Republican) of ambitious health care reform, President Obama held a prime-time news conference. In the speech, he stated that proposed reforms would cover 97-98 percent of Americans and re-iterated that "health insurance reform will not add to our […]
Continue ReadingPresident Obama’s News Conference on Health Care Reform
Toronto (and Ontario's) huge housing needs require a major provincial commitment
Do the math: Ontario housing minister Jim Watson's day-long commitment – along with members of his staff – to take up hammer and nails and help build 16 new homes as part of a charity build in Toronto underlines the urgent need for the provincial government to ramp up its housing efforts as it continues […]
Continue ReadingToronto (and Ontario's) huge housing needs require a major provincial commitment
US Health Care Reform: An Update before the Speech
Canadians continue to watch with interest and concern as policy-makers in the United States debate how to best reform the US health care system. Canadians and the Canadian health care system have even been targeted in negative advertisements surrounding the potential reforms south of the border. The following is an update to my analysis (posted […]
Continue ReadingUS Health Care Reform: An Update before the Speech
Three important Ontario housing facts: Highest housing costs, lowest provincial spending, worst municipal download
As the Ontario government’s province-wide consultations for a comprehensive provincial housing plan open the first of three sessions in Toronto this evening, here are three housing facts to consider: Highest housing costs: Ontario has the highest housing costs of any province (median household shelter costs of $10,878, according to Statistics Canada). One in every three […]
Both private and non-profit enterprises fall short in pandemic planning
Both private companies and non-profit enterprises are struggling to deal with the current recession, and many don’t have proper pandemic flu plans in place, warns Wellesley Instititute CEO Rick Blickstead in a front page article in today’s Toronto Star. “Many organizations have not done proper risk management to prepare for the inevitability of people being […]
Continue ReadingBoth private and non-profit enterprises fall short in pandemic planning
An Ambitious Plan to Reform US Health Care
Recently, Democrats in the US House of Representatives unveiled a 1,018 page health reform package, entitled “America’s Affordable Health Choices Act,” which was based on the requirements set out by President Obama to lower health care costs, let people kept their current insurance and substantially decrease the number of uninsured Americans (currently estimated at 45.7 […]