A couple of weeks ago I blogged about the rally to help save the smaller Ontario hospitals (here). The smaller communities and rural areas in Ontario have a doctor shortage that has forced some residents who cannot get a family doctor to rely on the closest emergency rooms. We live in a rural area but are amongst the lucky one who do have a regular family doctor. Last week we were very blessed to have the closest emergency room open! Closing this emergency room would have meant a considerably longer drive just to be able to get help. So I am very, very grateful that for the time being the closest emergency room is to be left open. Whether this reprieve continues remains to be seen. The reality is many people just like us are facing emergency room closures that will put lives at risk.
On the topic of health care, there is the myth that Canada has socialized health care. Access to health care is available to all Canadian citizens. Whether they are close enough or have the means to access that health care is another issue which is why keeping the emergency rooms of these small hospitals is so important. Now in many cases medications are required. That is not covered under the access to health care. There are provincial plans for low income, senior citizens, those on social assistance and those aboriginals living on reserves. If you have a provincial drug plan there is a deductible that you need to meet before they pay for the drug. The provincial drug plans only cover an approved list of drugs so if the drug required is not on the list you are out of luck if you do not have the money to pay for the prescription. Unfortunately so many Canadians who have recently lost their jobs will not be able to afford prescriptions and may not be able to wait for the approval time for provincial drug plans. That means they simply have to go without the necessary drugs. We do not have prescription coverage of any kind. I feel very blessed to be fortunate enough that we have had both the ability and foresight to budget for an emergency fund for prescription costs.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2009
Tulipia tarda
Oh come on, I can hear the chuckle :)
PS. the picture has been making its way around online. I'm not sure who took it.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2009
I had a great spammers post idea for today but decided to address the Tamil protest in Toronto instead. If you haven't been following the various Tamil protest they have been holding rallies in front of the United States Consulate on University Avenue in Toronto. At times their numbers have actually delayed and/or prevented people from getting to out patient clinics at the hospitals. They have disrupted traffic in the downtown core of Toronto for several days. Yesterday almost 2,000 Tamil protesters decided it would be a great idea to close down the Gardiner for 6 hours because they want Canadian government action to stop the genocide/civil war against Tamils in Sri Lanka. It took more than 5 hours to clear the backlog due to this closure. Public safety was clearly endangered. Today they continue to disrupt traffic.
Hello!!!!!!!!!!!!
Our Canadian government just sent $3M dollars for humanitarian aid for the Tamil cause in Sri Lanka. That's $3M that could have been used to keep our local hospitals open. That's $3M that could have used in Canada to help those who are very much hurting from the recession. That's $3M that could have been used to help the Canadian homeless situation. That's $3M of our hard earned tax dollars that we pay to our Canadian government on our behalf. They are even resorting to calling anyone who doesn't support their cause a racist! Enough!
The reality of the situation and while I do empathize with the Tamil plight is Canada cannot intervene and has no way of being able to enforce any sanctions against Sri Lanka. The Canadian government has no legal jurisdiction in Sri Lanka. So far Canadians have been very tolerant of the Tamil protests not only in Toronto but in other major cities BUT our patience is wearing thin! Last night the illegal seizure of the Gardiner was the straw that broke the camel's back. Occupying a Canadian road or highway is such a fashion is illegal regardless of the cause! Each and every participant in this seizure should have been arrested and removed. They definitely should be investigated for putting their children in harms way. I believe that is called endangering the welfare of a minor that is also a chargeable offense. As newer immigrants they rely heavily on our Canadian welfare system without contributing to our tax base YET are at the moment costing us thousands of dollars over these protests. Don't forget the Tamils support the LTTE a know terrorist group. Yet when the Tigers were doing the killing and maiming over the 26 yr old war the Tamils had no complaints. It's only since the Sri Lanka government started winning the war that now the Tamils in Canada complain! Like as if blood is not already on their hands? They came here as refugees wave their Tiger flags NOT Canadian flags even though they are supposed to be Canadian YET have no problem holding a city as hostage. It is our tax dollars they are wasting!
Here's what I'm thinking. I'm sick and tired of our tax dollars being wasted and diverted out of Canada. I'm sick and tired of our tax dollars being wasted with our men in blue and mounted police trying to congenially keep the peace over illegal protests. I think what we need is a huge group of like minded folks to get together and shut down every single highway in Canada! Unfortunately that is not the Canadian way to get things done.
Garden Gnome
©2006-2009
The past week was a stressful one yet throughout the difficulties one blessing helped me keep things in perspective. Flowers became the blessing theme for the week both indoors and outdoors. I cannot imagine my life without flowers! Flowers ask nothing of you, make no demands and yet give so much. Even the flowers on plants some consider as weeds are beautiful. I can't recall ever seeing an ugly flower!
My husband surprised me with a beautiful bouquet of bright flowers to brighten the family room. A variety of narcissus, crocuses and crabapple blooms brightened the gardens. The Vinca major, Lamiums and Sweet Woodruff are blooming as are a couple of smaller flowering bushes. The lilac bushes are just starting to bloom. I discovered two new large patches of beautiful but unidentified flowers. One has bright yellow flowers with pale tips that are about 3 inch diameter. The other similar flowers that appear to be a double bloom in white with pink streaks. Both are very pretty and there appears to be a fair amount of the same plants that are not mature enough to bloom yet. The lily of the valley are up but not in full bloom yet. Even the few cheery dandelions were enough to bring a smile!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2009
This is a 5th grade math problem. This is not a trick question. This is a real math problem so don't say that the bus doesn't have legs.
There are 7 girls in a bus. Each girl has 7 backpacks. In each backpack, there are 7 big cats. For every big cat, there are 7 little cats.
The bus driver is not in the bus at this time.
Question:
How many legs are there in the bus?
See if you can get the right answer. Leave your answer as a comment!!!
Garden Gnome
©2006-2009
