For the complete sumary of Wednesday Night #1214 which dealt with principally Canadian topics, please see: http://www.wednesday-night.com/Wed1214page2.asp

The (Canadian) Supreme Court decision on healthcare

The courage of Wednesday Nighters becomes evident as they made fearless predictions on Supreme Court decisions less than twenty-four hours before that decision was rendered.
The constitutional right to timely medical care is seen as a parallel to the constitutional right to a timely trial for legal offences, a decision that recently saw the immediate liberation without trial, of some potentially guilty people charged with criminal offences. In the case of health care, however, there might be a conflict between the Constitution and the Canadian social contract that might modify the effect of a total two-tier health care system. It is predicted, however, that changes in the delivery of health care in Canada are inevitable. As a footnote, governments throughout the world appear to be moving to the right, Canada, perhaps, at a slower pace.

[Editor's note: June 9 The historic decision by the Supreme Court struck down a Quebec prohibition that banned the use of private health insurance and private financing of hospital services to provide medically necessary services. Although the ruling applies only in Quebec, since the prohibition was found to violate Quebec's Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms, it could open the door to similar litigation in other provinces. http://www.news-medical.net/?id=10891

Canadian Medical Association President Albert Schumacher commented "This represents a stinging indictment of the failure of governments to respond to the mountains of studies and years of research with real action [regarding wait times]. In essence, the court has agreed with our fundamental position that Canadians have the right to timely access to health services." See: CMA moves to reassure patients following 'historic' medicare ruling http://www.cma.ca/index.cfm?ci_id=10026501&la_id=1&topstory=1 ]

JACQUES CLÉMENT: REPORT ON THE ECONOMY (focus on Europe)
http://www.wednesday-night.com/Jacques-Report.asp#1214

Near-term trading Range Outlook
[list=]Canadian Dollar: 79¢ U.S. - 81¢ U.S.
Gold: $425.00 U.S. - $430.00 U.S. ($450 by year-end due to increased demand from India, declining production in South Africa)
Crude: $53.00 U.S. -$55.00 U.S.
T.S.X.: 9,600 - 9,700
Dow Jones: 10,400 - 10,500[/list]

QUOTES OF THE EVENING

It is not a crime to peddle influence, particularly if you don’t have it

(It has been said that) a week is a long time in politics and the past week has seen a complete change in the political landscape in Canada

Very few people have the integrity to leave [politics] when it is time

If we allow parallel (healthcare) systems, how do we guarantee that the medical practitioners will not all flow to the 'private' – and more remunerative – sector?