Alberta Premier Ralph Klein's agenda against universal public healthcare complements U.S. interests

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Dear Fellow Canadians,

As many of you are probably aware Alberta is about to embark on a very serious attempt to turn back the clock to the dark days of private medicine. It is my opinion that once Alberta is successful in this agenda to destroy Universal healthcare, other provinces will follow close behind, as will many of our other social programs.

Tommy Douglas was voted greatest Canadian by Canadians, not simply because of his dedication to Universal Healthcare, but because of his incredible commitment to the people of Canada. I understand he was not a very big man, but I would wager that few politicians today are qualified to shine his shoes. Many Canadians do not realize the tremendous fight that went on in this country in order to bring a decent quality of life to all Canadians. We have been the envy of the world. The lifestyle we have enjoyed in Canada for the last 30 years or so, is because of men like Tommy Douglas. What we take for granted today, was fought for with every ounce of their beings on our behalf.

Mr. Douglas predicted that these programs would be threatened in the years to come. Those years are now! What we have stood for on the world stage, is now but a memory. We who prided ourselves as peacekeepers and peacemakers around the world, are now part of the much debated "War on Terror".

We, who stood against weaponizing space are now becoming integrated with the U.S. war machine. We were leaders on the anti-personnel landmines treaties, the treaty for non-proliferation of WMD and standing up for an end to poverty. Canadians values are being eroded under the guise of modernization, better trade and living with an atmosphere of fear.

We the people of Canada who claim to desire democracy are turning a blind eye to the new regime. We are not being consulted by our elected officials. We, are not being represented, for the good of the people of Canada. We, are being kept in the dark because we lack the will to flick on the switch.

Alberta Premier Ralph Klein.

If we continue to accept our position as helpless victims we do so at our own peril. Universal Healthcare is affordable for all Canadians. The Alberta Conservative government has stopped listening to the people, stopped working for the people and instead is forging onward to serve the private corporations in the healthcare industry, even if it means breaking the Canada Health Act, according to Mr. Klein.

I have written to my MLA, to Premier Klein as well as the members of the opposition parties to express my concern. The Alberta Liberals responded promptly to my letter of concern , followed by a letter also from the Alberta New Democrats (ANDP).

The loss of Universal Healthcare is but a symptom of a greater problem. Our social consciousness is being eroded. We are buying into the greed mentality. We are being programmed to believe resources are limited and only those who deserve them will be rewarded.

The criteria for being a recipient is becoming more and more limited. The body of judges determining who is worthy was self appointed and in no way reflects the facts. I firmly believe there is enough food, medicine, money, water and air to sustain the world's population. The crisis is not resources, it is in the management of those resources.

Like young children who have not been taught to share, or care for their fellow playmates, we are living in a world that has become so consumed by having more, we have forgotten the very basic premise of living in a community. Regardless of where you live on this planet, what you do affects others. We are all dependant on each other. If humanity is to find that balance called civilization, we will have to dig deep and return to a level of social conscience that is significantly above the level we have sunk to today!

I am asking my fellow Canadians and Albertans to help us fight for what all Canadians have a right to; and that is Universal Healthcare, publicly funded and delivered. I believe that Canadians have been silent far too long and that in doing so we have abdicated our place in democracy. It is ours to reclaim! If Universal Healthcare was affordable to Tommy Douglas' Saskatchewan in the 1960's, then it is certainly affordable in oil rich Alberta 2006! Government in a democracy puts the people's best interest first rather than greed-driven oil and other U.S. multi-national interests.

This is our country so let us demand that our elected officials work for us and our best interest. If you see yourself as rich enough to sustain this new world consumer mentality then I ask you to consider the future where only the rich will thrive and the rest will simply be servants. Consider the legacy of debt, crumbling infrastructure, homelessness, poverty, wars fought for survival and desperation we are leaving to the next generation! It doesn't have to be this way, we can all be 'great' Canadians and leave a legacy of which we can be truly proud! We have a choice, we have a voice, let's use it!

Yours very truly
Catherine Whelan Costen
Canadian Action Party President &
Communications Director