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Bill Clinton gives Praise to Canadian Health Care

by Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke | August 30, 2009 at 04:04 am

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Former President Bill Clinton spoke at the Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto yesterday. He was obviously aware how the Canadian Health Care System has been drawn into the debate South of the 49th parallel.

He said: "You may want to make fun of yourselves all you want, but there are many people who would kill to live in an environment like this".

Clinton also lamented unequal distribution of wealth between Canadian living in urban areas and those in northern rural Canada. He called that a pattern repeated throughout the world.

Clinton appeared tired. He had had a long day, arriving in Toronto, after the ceremonies to lay Senator Ted Kennedy to rest.

Clinton expressed hope that Senator Kennedy's lifetime dream would be realized and that every American would receive health care, following Canada's example and that of the remainder of the civilized world.

Clinton said there were powerful incentives to stop delivery of universal health care in the U.S.

The venue, where Clinton spoke only sold half of the available tickets. I find this amazing, since, whenever Clinton has a speaking engagement, in the so called Conservative Alberta, the venue is sold out.

"You may want to make fun of yourselves all you want, but there are many people who would kill to live in an environment like this," the former American president said.

The former U.S. president's speech, Embracing Our Common Humanity, praised Canada's health-care system. He also lamented the unequal distribution of wealth and opportunities between rural northern Canadians and those who live in urban centres, calling it "a pattern repeated throughout the world."

The wise-cracking and impassioned Clinton spoke to a crowd at the Canadian National Exhibition on Saturday afternoon, only hours after attending the funeral of U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy in Boston.

"I hope that his lifetime dream that America finally will follow Canada and every other advanced nation in the world in providing affordable health care to all of our people will pass," Clinton said of Kennedy.

Clinton expressed hope that his country will adopt a health care system where everyone gets coverage.

Using examples from town hall meetings held across the U.S., Clinton tried to explain why his country was so reluctant to change the way it delivers health care.

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Barry ORegan

at 06:15 on August 30th, 2009

Good for Bill praising Canadas healthcare, one also wonders if he was scoping out some Canadian Babes as well

Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke

at 08:24 on August 30th, 2009

Too tired.

A. Tran

at 09:20 on August 30th, 2009

While Canadians do not need to listen to former President Clinton, but most of the American public need to listen and at least learn from the Canadian health care example, with an open mind.