Amidst globalization and americanization, it is sometimes hard to define what being Canadian is. No value is as distinctly Canadian as that of universal health care, as it is the only country in the world that offers it. Perhaps this is why the debate over the privatization of healthcare has been a heated one. True, the valued Canadian health system is going through a period of crisis and is undoubtedly in need of some serious reform. Privatization of health care and the eventual establishment of a two-tier system has been offered as a solution. Privatization will supposedly lower costs, improve efficiency, and improve the quality of healthcare. Many do not take these statements at face value, and with good reason due to the stronger contradictory evidence coming from the public healthcare side, as well as knowledge of the detriments that will come along with privatization. Those in favor of privatization argue that opposition to privatization is unfounded and is a close-minded attempt to protect the status quo. This is not true. The Federal and Provincial governments are aware that changes need to be made in the health system in order for it to survive. In a sense, the opinion to keep public healthcare is not one of maintaining the status quo, but rather rejecting that which will bring no new benefits and at the same time be detrimental to the already suffering healthcare system.
             The system of healthcare that a country employs is very descriptive of the political and social dynamics of the country. The Canadian healthcare system has been accused of being too value ridden by those who propagate private healthcare. This is a charge that Canada is guilty of, and proudly so. Yes, the Canadian healthcare system is value ridden, but with Canadian values. Canadians believe in equity, inclusion, humanity, and compassion and so have therefore employed a healthcare system that recognizes healthcare as a right, not a commodity available to a...