What is going on with Canada health care system? My wife, Jennifer, has been at the emergency room waiting to see a doctor since 1pm today...it is now almost 8:30pm and there is no sign of her getting in any time soon. There has to be a better way of doing things. Here are a few things that I think could be done to help relieve the stress.

1. More doctors
- Free degree
* Minimum grade requirements must be met
* Must commit to 10 years in Canadian medical system
* 1st two years in a rural community
- Make it easier for doctors from other countries to practice in Canada
- Encourage the medical schools to accept more students with better funding

2. Regional clinics
- Setup clinics throughout the community
- All doctors will run their practices within a clinic
- Doctors within the clinic require to rotate to allow for 24/7 service for walk-ins
- Walk-ins must deal with the closest clinic to their place of residence. (emergencies are an exception to the rule)
- Nurses are on staff to help filter through the lower priority cases, such as those who need bandaging and obvious diagnosis.

3. Emergency rooms are to be left for emergencies that require ambulances, surgery, x-rays, etc.
- Nurses would provide initial assessment of any walk-ins and direct those who should go to a clinic to go to a clinic.
- Instead of having people sitting in an examination room waiting for the doctor, they should wait in a queue (unless privacy or a bed is necessary). A nurse can do the first review of the patient in a private room. When done, the patient can go back and sit in a chair and let the nurse move on to the next patient. When the doctor is ready to see the patient, they can call the patient into his exam room. If sent for an x-ray, the patients can sit in a queue for the x-ray, then return to the waiting room.

These are just a few ideas that have come to mind at this point in time. I'm sure that there are lots of other things that could be done...but, this is a start.

I was listening to the radio today and they were discussing the problems of children in schools not respecting the authority of their teachers and the challenges of implementing discipline. I found that most callers were vague and think that the solution is simple.

The first thing to do is determine whether to restore corporal punishment. There is nothing more effective than fear of the ruler. However, knowing that the ladies with the bleeding hearts don't want little Jonny to get hurt, even if he deserves it, I suggest that a zero tolerance policy be implemented. If Jonny misbehaves, he is immediately sent to the principals office to await his parents to pick him up to take him home for the day. After a few trips home, the next step it a short suspension.

However, the main issue here is that the children who don't have any respect for their teachers aren't taught to have respect for anyone at home. Their parents have left them to be raised by prime time TV, the public school system and anyone else who crosses their paths. Unfortunately, the ladies with the bleeding hearts have removed parental authority and feel that children need to be reasoned with. If the parents actually had permission to discipline their children (in love), I would suggest that the parents be fined for their children's lack of respect. Perhaps then, they would teach their children how to listen and behave.

Okay, perhaps this topic isn't so simple. However, I'm sure that if we were to stop medicating our children and start disciplining them, we would have a lot less problems.

What is going on here in Canada? I've been very proud to say that I'm a Conservative supporter. However, with the slam campaign against Mr. Dion and the Liberal party, I'm very disappointed. When we start pointing fingers at the Liberals' faults, it implies that we don't have anything to stand on. I suggest Mr. Harper get his team focused on doing their job well and let the Liberals hang themselves.

Now, with respect to the genius idea of Mr. Dion to restrict certain ridings to women only candidates..."WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?" This move basically implies that women can't compete against men in politics and that you would rather have a woman in the party than the best person for the job. Even though I'm totally against the slam campaign against the Liberals, this move helps prove that they have a point.

Isn't it time that we get some smart people involved with politics? If it were Preston Manning verses Frank McKenna...we would have a whole different ball game.

Something needs to happen. Something needs to be changed. Heads need to roll. I was thoroughly disgusted this morning while listening to the morning news.

Last year Omaha was shocked to hear of the disappearance of 12 year old Amber Harris who had been last seen getting off her school bus. Her little body was found in a wooded area 6 months after she went missing.

The parents were broken, the community was supportive but shaken. Today a year and 3 months after she went missing an arrest was made. The accused was a level 3 sex offender who in 1999 was convicted of raping two young girls. Two lives damaged in 1999 and my question is how did this guy ever get released from prison? I am sick that our society allows killers and rapists to get off easier than some white collar criminals. This guy, by his previous convictions shows that he is scum. Who was the scum who let him walk free?

The criminal justice system is broken in both America and Canada. There is no rehabilitation going on in our prisons. Furthermore, we have to ask is rehab possible for the most violent of offenders? What will it take to keep our children safe?

There has been some talk, here in Canada, about being a "tolerant" nation and banning religious symbols in the public. This would inlcude such things as wearing a cross around your neck, having a fish on your car or even wearing a head covering.

What is going on with our country? Where do they stop? For those who worship sports, would a Leafs jersey be banned? For those who wear Nike sneakers, would their logo need to be removed from the shoe?

It is my opinion that religious symbols, as well as any other symbol that one chooses to display are an expression of the individual's personality and should not be oppressed. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule, in that if a symbol is clearly inappropriate, it should be censored. There is no way that a cross can be offensive, no matter how much someone tries to twist their argument. However, pornography or some sort of other vulgar image would qualify as offensive.