The next Dialogue for Democracy forum will take place:

Date: Monday, November 9, 2009

Time: 7:15 pm to 9:30 pm

Location: Canterbury Community Centre, Multi-Room 4

2185 Arch Street

K1G 2H5

The discussion will be led by Dr. Qais Ghanem

Only a year ago, during the federal election campaign, Canadians were busy expressing their anxiety about the state of health care in the country, and politicians, hoping to be elected, jumped on the bandwagon, lamenting the deterioration in health care delivery.

But then all that was drowned in the seemingly more urgent story of the economic crisis, which is threatening to get even worse, and to therefore distract Canadian voters yet again.  We need to bring the health care crisis back on the agenda.  Here are some issues that require action:

Last year the Canadian Medical Association published some startling facts:

• - Almost 5 million Canadians have no family doctor. An additional 4.5 million could be without one, if nothing is done to improve the situation.
• - Canada ranks number 24 in the Organizationforf Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in terms of physician-population ratio.
• - Canada would need 26,000 more doctors right now to catch up with the OECD average.
• - Canada spends only one third of the OECD average on information technology (e.g. electronic medical records) and diagnostic equipment (e.g. MRI scanners)
• - Amongst OECD countries, our wait time for access to specialty care services is among the longest!

Dialogue for Democracy (D4D) provides a forum for citizens to share their views and questions in an open, friendly environment. "Experts" introduce the subject of the day, and answer questions, but all attendees have a turn to speak. That's the D4D difference.  We would like to hear from you; come and make your voice heard!

Call Colin at 613-739-2784