It seems to me, that the conservatives WANT to create a 2-tier health care system for all of Canada. Alberta is the only province in Canada that has a 2-tier health system. Presently, the Canadian health system has both a private and public component. The public system covers all "medically necessary" services (i.e. surgery and treatments for ailments). The private system, which accounts for approximately 30 percent of all health spending, covers everything else (i.e. dentistry).
A two-tier medical system differs from this present situation in that the private and public systems would no longer be mutually exclusive, with the private sector participating only in non-necessary services. Instead, the same services would be offered in both systems and the consumer could choose between the systems.
It is a system in which a guaranteed public health care system exists, but where a private system operates in parallel. The private system has the benefit of shorter waiting times and more luxurious treatment, but costs far more than the public one for patients. Thus there are two tiers of health care, one for the public at large and another for those who can afford to pay for better care.
That being said - I live in Manitoba and do not pay for ANY of my treatments or medications whatsoever - Medicare and the Life Savings program I'm on pick up all of my costs. I'm not sure who a 2-tier program would effect me. I voted for NDP.
