Ontario, don’t turn away from the health-care crisis

I usually enjoy any time spent reading Canadian humorist and economist Stephen Leacock for his agility to entertain as he illustrates the bizarre dynamics of our mostly Canadian and man-made systems of governance and commerce.

To read his 1945 work “While there’s still time” now in our COVID era is educational and alarming.

That particular series of essays was an urgent appeal to boost confidence in private enterprise in order to offset the economic deflation that could have fallen after WWII Canada.

His focus was resource development and investment. Yet, he mentioned human resources — people-oriented services, education, workplace unions and governance bodies — to convince the reader that realistic social policies and private initiatives must balance out for the public good.

Ontario needs to fund, support and secure a healthy health-care labor force, not turn away.

If Niagara’s local urgent care and hospital services are at risk of permanent closure, it may be that this province should do its fair share to uphold the provisions of the Canada Health Act — to better fund these community built hubs of service and ensure equitable, accessible provision of health service, for all.

As Stephen Leacock insisted, honesty and service for a public good come before profits.

Julia Bluswhak, St. Catharines

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