June 25, 2004

AN OPEN LETTER TO CANADIAN VOTERS FROM RALPH NADER

It is out of affection for Canada that I tender the following:

Caveat, voters, next Monday.

Stephen Harper and the Conservatives have plans for crippling the commonwealth and security of the Canadian standard of living, known worldwide as just about the finest among sizable nations. Mr. Harper and the Conservatives are sympathetic with the Fraser Institute's plan for a corporatist Canada that tears away your common safety net. The Fraser Institute would choose to insidiously undermine your

national health insurance system bit by bigger bit -- on the installment plan.

If you want to see the Fraser Institute and the Conservatives' plan for Canadians, come to the U.S., where health care for many Americans is based on a pay-or-die model. Forty-five million Americans -- women, men and children -- have no insurance coverage, and the number of uninsureds is increasing. The prestigious Institute of Medicine estimates 18,000 Americans die every year because they cannot afford to

see a doctor or go to a hospital. In the US, most working people have lost their freedom to choose a doctor or hospital because their corporate HMO plans assign such service. Hundreds of billions of dollars are wasted annually on bureaucracy, administrative expenses, and massive computerized billing fraud and abuse (see www.citizen.org, or Harvard professor Malcolm Sparrow's book License to Steal). Furthermore, average health care expenses per capita are much higher in the US than in Canada -- and not only drug prices.

Voters beware. You are, in part, understandably reacting to the recent scandal touching the incumbent party. Do not overreact. You have a third major choice -- the NDP -- or other parties. Don't indirectly vote for the Fraser Institute and its positions of anti-law and order for corporations -- policies threatening to become your future government's policies. You'll pay: under the Conservatives, large corporations, including those from other countries, will have more say than ever -- Reagan/Bush/BushII style. Please maintain and advance your civil society.

There are many Americans who, over the decades, have looked to Canada for social justice initiatives to emulate. About ten years ago, I co-authored a book, Canada Firsts, which became a 42-week bestseller in

your country. Canada Firsts described many Canadian "firsts" that found their way south to our country -- including credit unions. We need an independent, humane Canada. It is in such a spirit that I submit these views for your consideration.

Best wishes for justice,

Ralph Nader