It was a glorious day at the base of Blue Mountain.
The sky was blue, a slight breeze helped fight off the humidity and the course was in excellent shape.
Between work, family and various responsibilities, the chance to relax is not something that comes along too often. The best part though – was meeting up with friends we hadn’t seen since last summer.
The more seasoned golfers in the group have fancier clubs – one for every occasion.
Tough lies, sand traps and exiting the tall grass are special shots often requiring what one guy called his wedge. It was like a go-to-club when the going got tough and by the number of times the wedge was called upon it was a good thing he packed one.
Getting back into the swing after an overnight sojourn, the routine watching of news and election views returned. Part of the job some would say. Half asleep the “wedge” came up but this time it wasn’t about golf, it was about politics and the need to find a divisive “issue” to rally voters.
According to the broadcaster and her panel that night it would be up to the Liberals to find a wedge to beat back Conservative leader O’Toole who seems to be gaining favour in some opinion polls. The wedge, the wedge.
Over the weekend we received a report from Liberal fundraisers that indeed the wedge had been found – it would be O’Toole in his own words suggesting a willingness to investigate private options outside of universal healthcare. Long story short, the quote was paraphrased and Twitter has labelled it accordingly. Mischief on the hustings is nothing new.
Old news as well, is the inability for serious conversations to happen. Any chance to debate or discuss is usually thwarted by the “wedge” – a ruthless club pulled out of the bag to get out of the muck. It is our belief Canadians deserve better and deserve a conversation on the future.
While this column started off fine and every intention was to avoid talking about the P or C word, we find it impossible. Health care – the wedge issue – is in perilous shape. The pandemic and Covid have proven that.
The lockdowns decried in recent months were in good part caused by a health care system with limited capacity. Yes, much of health care is a provincial responsibility, but the standard expectation of every Canadian should be similar, it should be universal. The funding to ensure a solid, dependable standard of care rests with the federal government.
If indeed there are ways to improve the efficiency of that system from a financial, wait-time and service perspective the conversation should be had. Fanning the flames of division may win elections and serve party interests, but it doesn’t do much for a citizenry looking for leadership.
Skip the wedge and get down to business.
