As many of you know, I’m about to move to the US to launch a new Government and Regulatory Affairs Practice in our FH New York office. As a result, I’ve been following US politics even more closely than normal these past few months and (like many Canadians) I have been watching the health care debate, in particular, with intense interest.
Tonight, the United States House of Representatives passed what is arguably the most important piece of legislation in a generation. After President Obama signs the bill into law, 32 million Americans who (according to the Congressional Budget Office) are currently uninsured will finally have health coverage.
Just stop and think about that. 32 million Americans. That’s practically the entire population of Canada who currently can’t go to the hospital when they are sick, because they can’t pay for the care they need to get better. 32 million Americans who have to choose between their physical and financial wellbeing. That’s a choice that, as a Canadian, is almost impossible to imagine.
Make no mistake, this is an emotional issue … one that has divided many Americans and has clearly divided Congress along party and ideological lines. And, frankly, there are a lot of problems with the Senate Bill that the House just passed: It’s expensive; It’s complicated; It will raise costs for some; And there were numerous side deals cut that seem to run counter to the principles of the bill.
But for all of those concerns, 32 million Americans will finally get health coverage.
That is huge.
The United States is one of the most incredible countries in the world. I’m one of the rare Canadians who is a big supporter of the US (I am moving my family there after all). But for a country as rich, powerful and (yes) noble as the US to allow the equivalent of the entire population of Canada to go without any health coverage at all was absolutely unconscionable. It has been the great shame of a great country.
… Until tonight.
The late Ted Kennedy wrote to President Obama that health care reform is the “great unfinished business of our society.”
Well tonight, that changed.
The work isn’t finished. Far from it. But tonight the United States took a huge step forward.
We in Canada know all too well that universality of health care is only one part of the solution. Much more will need to be done over the coming months and years to truly honour the spirit of Ted Kennedy’s words.
But for tonight … Congratulations America!
You’ve done a great service to your people (even those who don’t know it yet) and you’ve moved your country forward in an impressive and important way.
Well done.
