Canada's top doctor singled out New Democrat leader Jack Layton yesterday for "hypocrisy" for undergoing hernia treatment at a private Toronto medical clinic.

But Brian Day, president-elect of the Canadian Medical Association, was quick to note Layton is in good company.

Former prime ministers Paul Martin, Jean Chretien and Joe Clark also have been treated at private medical clinics, Day told the annual meeting of the Canadian Science Writers' Association.

And he said union leader Buzz Hargrove, president of the Canadian Autoworkers, proved a master at "queue jumping" when he got in for an MRI within 24 hours of injuring his leg.

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Reject the message...and also the messenger

The Star is lecturing Doctors not use patients in their effort to get a better deal.

As for business issues, the business of doctors is supposed to be to make people better, not to extend their suffering. That's why, if the anesthesiologists really cared about patients, they would act like professionals and cancel their one-day job action on Feb. 11.

Actually, the effect of the Canadian Health Act, and recent legislation by the Ontario Liberals to strengthen the same is to deny patients the ability to limit their suffering by attending on a private clinic. If the government really cared they would allow people and service providers to opt out. But this is not necessary in the view of the Star. Their solution: doctors should put their grievances to OMA negotiators. And then what? The government turns it down? The only relief for doctors comes from increased waiting lists. This puts political pressure on the government who then must respond. Of course the doctor who does not like the system should just get out and open his own clinic ...wait a second...that is illegal in Ontario. Fines of up to $25,000 per offence. So the only option then is to leave the province, to take your act south of the border. It really is the government way or the highway. If enough doctors take the highway route, which is unlikely as it involves moving your family away from their family and friends, then conditions will improve for the doctors who move in to take the place of the ones that are leaving. The Star, has been supporting the PM's claim that minority rights must be protected. Here's a minority that could stand some protection. Lawyers, dentists, accountants, plumbers, MBAs, roofers, teachers, and just about everyone else in this country are free to pursue their livelihood in the private sector, charging whatever the market dictates. Doctors are denied this "right". They are forced to work in a government monopoly where the only power they hold is to vote with their feet. It is disingenuous of the Star to pretend that it is otherwise.

Fat is bad, very bad. The Heart and Stroke Foundation moved fat ahead of tobacco as the number one cause of heart disease. Now more news from Ontario. Apparently it is an epidemic. Fat people are costing the health care system millions of dollars. In the hysteria following the announcement there were calls for separate sections in restaurants for fat people, a ban on fat people in airplanes and even a complete ban on fat people in public places. These hysterics are misplaced. Fat people are not evil; they are the victims of capitalism, trans-national corporations such as McDonald’s, and globalization in general. Through a conspiracy of deception, the Fat Guy’s food was not properly labelled; his food content was not properly regulated; documentaries on body image problems made his parents feed him potatoes; the X-Box was addictive; cable TV ran B-Movies, the NHL expanded the number of teams and the baseball playoffs were awesome. As a child, the Fat Guy was enticed by Happy Meal advertisements and we all know how addictive a McDonald’s fry is. Some have suggested that the fries are cooked in fat to make them even more addictive. There is no easy solution to this problem, but one is necessary or there will be a “death by chocolate” for millions of Canadians. If the fat die at the same rate as Health Canada claims smokers die, soon there will be no one left in the country. The fabric of the country is unravelling. The State is much more interested in people than profits. The State loves children. The answer lies with the strong State action to regulate weight and exercise levels for Canadians. This can be accomplished in the following ways:

• Exercise should be made mandatory. Each Canadian should be fitted with an electronic device to register their daily activity. The same device can be used for identification purposes when they do their mandatory weighing in.
• In an ideal world, employers would allow paid time for exercise or would have group exercise. However, private corporations are motivated by profit and not people. For the sake of your health we need to nationalize all means of production.
• Exercise is not enough if people are eating incorrectly. To regulate consumer food purchases and consumption a system of food rations will be implemented.
• To combat the improper food black market, paper money will be eliminated and a system of electronic credits will be implemented. The State will monitor all expenditures for the sake of your health. All radio & telecommunication signals from non-government sources will be blocked to prevent fast food advertising.
• Lost jobs will easily be replaced through an expanded civil service, increased military to patrol the border for illegal food smugglers, and new jobs in the State’s food distribution centres.
• For those communities that do not fit into our new, “healthy” economic system, an iron foundry will be opened in their town. We expect iron production to increase by over 450% over the course of our first five-year plan.
• The Prime Minister will be known as Big Doctor. There will be a single political party headed by Big Doctor. Big Doctor is good and benevolent. Big Doctor just wants to protect your health. Other political parties are merely puppets of Mayor McCheese, more interested in profits than people.
• Since children are our future (and our greatest natural resource) they will be re-educated in the new healthy lifestyle. They will be taught that Big Doctor loves them and they love Big Doctor. If their parents have improper foods, paper money or a satellite dish their parents do not love them or Big Doctor. There will be a 1-800-snitch line.
• We can expect an increase in the crime rate as fat addicts commit fat related crimes. Research shows Canadians being policed by Tim Horton addicts. Thus, a police force loyal to Big Doctor with special powers to police fat crimes will be created.
• An epidemic calls for fast action. We will confiscate all improper food. Rights under the Charter will be "temporarily suspended” to allow for unfettered and arbitrary search and seizure.
• Those convicted of fat crimes will be sent to “health clubs” where they can work off that fat through forced labour.
• Cigarette taxes will not be raised. Big Tobacco is our friend. Big Tobacco has always been our friend. We are at war with McDonald’s. We have always been at war with McDonald’s.

These simple changes will ensure that we live healthier and happier lives. Big Doctor loves you. You love Big Doctor. Fall Down Mayor McCheese. Hail Big Doctor.