Canadas medical reform
The week's news at a glance.
Ottawa
Canada’s Supreme Court last week struck down a Quebec law banning private insurance for medical treatment. The ruling gives new momentum to a drive to legalize private clinics as an alternative to the government’s universal health-care system, which has been plagued by a shortage of doctors and long waits for surgery. “Patients die as a result of waiting lists,” Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin said. Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh said allowing some patients to get private care, either through insurance or direct payments, would undermine Canada’s commitment to providing equal treatment for all. “We need to strengthen the public health-care system,” Dosanjh said, “so there is no need for private health care.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
-
The daily gossip: Sebastian Stan to play Donald Trump in a movie, Academy to start the Oscars an hour earlier, and more
The daily gossip: November 30, 2023
By Brendan Morrow, The Week US Published
-
Elon Musk overshadows his own Cybertruck rollout
Talking Point The X owner's latest bizarre public appearance and incendiary comments threaten to derail the 'biggest product launch of anything by far on Earth this year'
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Should the US put conditions on Israel aid?
Today's Big Question Democrats are divided on the issue
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published