Surprisingly or unsurprisingly, one of the most common conversations I have with people after they learn that I am from north of the 49th parallel is about health care. And then taxes. Maybe this says something about the kind of people I meet, but I do think Canadian Health Care has a high reputation among western nations. It’s free to access. It’s comparatively cheap for our government, and we pay less tax than our British counterparts. Sometimes there are wait times, but if I have the sniffles or an infection or need stitches, I can get good care. Fast. Without opening my wallet or signing up for insurance. If I have an accident or an emergency proceedure, I won’t have to worry about paying for it. I can’t imagine living in a country where I would.

This is a revolutionary idea. One that is not that old, and one that is being fought over very bitterly in the US right now.

Which has led to the usual muck raking over how effective our socialized medicine actually is in the American press.

I think this is an incredible opportunity. There is a chance here for an international dialogue which can elucidate the benefits and shortcomings in various systems, and debunk and demythologize preconceived notions about the personal and financial costs of health care. We can better understand and appreciate why we have a health care system in Canada, why it works, and what can be better.

The closest thing I have found to this is Former Liberal Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh defending universal health care in a mid afternoon segment on CNN. And while Dosanjh’s aim is true, he’s unpolished and unfamiliar with the juggernaut of pundit style talk-journalism on the 24 hour news networks. He gives a few cringe-worthy sound bites, like “Canadians may wait a couple days to fix a broken leg.” I’ve never heard that one, Dosanjh. Oh to be sitting in the civilized halls of a CBC studio, speaking to a news anchor without a twitter obsession, and a noble brow (Peter Mansbridge anyone?).

This made me wonder though. Why wouldn’t the Conservatives stand up for our health care system? One senator has, but since a committment to preseving universal health care is part of the Conservative Party’s platform (in theory if not always in practice), wouldn’t this be an excellent opportunity to showcase the glories of our health care system? And perhaps even reap a little national pride to boot? What do Canadian conservatives really think about Health Care?