Thank you for this article. I served as a political advisor to Mr. Leitão for close to 4 years and he is a remarkable man who deserves to have his story told and shared. His tenure as finance minister under Couillard is probably the best in the history of Quebec.
It's such a weird preoccupation of Liberals to not allow doctors to set their own billing practises. I guess they know Canadians are cheap and would rather suffer mediocre health care than, God forbid, be asked to pay for part of a service they are consuming from a private practitioner.
Ah, but-- doctors are indeed allowed to set their own fees, as long as they don't participate in the public system. Many Canadians do see doctors that they pay directly, and pay a higher price to than the public system would otherwise remunerate. But doctors can't have it both ways. If someone wants to jump the queue then let them pay noticeably more to fully jump it and not pay a little more to get better service within the public system. I for one am happy with this either/or system.
That doesn't allow doctors to set their own billing system though. Why shouldn't someone who wants better health care than on offer by the public system purchases additional services? Why shouldn't a doctor be allowed to upsell? It's a business, not a charitable endeavor. We ask enough of doctors, cutting off their high margin upsell opportunities is a step too far, as the statistics show.
Thank you a great piece of long form journalism that I loved to read. Illuminated a career in politics that deserves greater attention and one I was totally unaware of. Well worth the time and I appreciated your article on this most interesting politician and that is definitely not a pejorative here!
I always liked Leitão, in part because he never looked comfortable with the political BS that came with his job. Guys like him, and (Ray) Bachand, and, currently, Girard, we should just let them do their jobs and exempt them from doing PR dance-offs. The economy would be better off, in my opinion.
"....nobody in politics ever has all the answers. It’s an irreducibly human pursuit. Which is why it’s always been so fascinating to cover." As you've described it here, I understand why our politics is so slow. Not a good thing during climate change. Does it have to continue irreducibly human until the end of time?
If I understand correctly (I'm new to all this too), if you've signed up to receive the newsletter by email, replying to any of those emails sends a message straight to my own inbox.
I see commentary about west vs Quebec experiences/perspectives on centralization vs decentralization in response to this article. My interest in this article is less that issue, and more the insights that can be gleaned from longer and in-depth accounts of the varied perspectives of the decision-makers we don’t get to hear much about in the mainstream/mail line media. With luck, Paul will have access to similar discussions with other “nameless” decision-makers who have been involved in some of the major challenges and changes in the fabric of the nation in recent years.
Excellent and informative article as usual from Paul. Top notch journalists like him always find a way to help readers have a better understanding of a topic. Re the Quebec issue of the wearing of Islamic niqabs, I agree with what you wrote in the linked article re the variations of religious symbolism from a legal perspective. As much as I don't like niqabs, and long beards (religious or not), it is interesting how we're not as offended by a Sikh turban or the bald head and garb of a Buddhist monk.
I think the bit about differences in dealing with the Harper and Trudeau government was of national interest. And it was also interesting just for the general openness of the answers.
I have at various times lived in Ontario but I was always happy to return to Alberta. I cannot provide first hand commentary on Quebec attitudes but I have spoken with many Quebecers; by contrast, I am an Albertan through and through.
As an Albertan I respectfully disagree somewhat with your description of us. Yes, we absolutely want to be left alone but it is not simply that we want to run our province like a business. Rather, it is that we see that a business can be run efficiently and we feel that the public administration of the province should be run efficiently and on a - dare I say it? - business-like basis. In other words, efficiently, albeit with the compassion and care of a good public administration. Clearly, government is not a business but that should not stop government from taking lessons from business on efficiency, etc. So, we don't want to run our province like a business but we do want to take pertinent - note, I said, pertinent - lessons from private enterprise. Further, Alberta is a fairly individualistic society which historically values self-reliance.
It is my perception of Quebec, based on conversations with Quebecers and my reading of matters, that les Quebecois are not individualistic so much as they are collectivist. That arises, I presume, because of their collective worry about their status as French speakers in a continent of (primarily) English speakers but also many Spanish speakers. To what extent, Quebec is insular, well, I cannot say with authority; it is my perception, however, that you are largely correct.
Thank you for this article. I served as a political advisor to Mr. Leitão for close to 4 years and he is a remarkable man who deserves to have his story told and shared. His tenure as finance minister under Couillard is probably the best in the history of Quebec.
It's such a weird preoccupation of Liberals to not allow doctors to set their own billing practises. I guess they know Canadians are cheap and would rather suffer mediocre health care than, God forbid, be asked to pay for part of a service they are consuming from a private practitioner.
Ah, but-- doctors are indeed allowed to set their own fees, as long as they don't participate in the public system. Many Canadians do see doctors that they pay directly, and pay a higher price to than the public system would otherwise remunerate. But doctors can't have it both ways. If someone wants to jump the queue then let them pay noticeably more to fully jump it and not pay a little more to get better service within the public system. I for one am happy with this either/or system.
That doesn't allow doctors to set their own billing system though. Why shouldn't someone who wants better health care than on offer by the public system purchases additional services? Why shouldn't a doctor be allowed to upsell? It's a business, not a charitable endeavor. We ask enough of doctors, cutting off their high margin upsell opportunities is a step too far, as the statistics show.
Thank you a great piece of long form journalism that I loved to read. Illuminated a career in politics that deserves greater attention and one I was totally unaware of. Well worth the time and I appreciated your article on this most interesting politician and that is definitely not a pejorative here!
I always liked Leitão, in part because he never looked comfortable with the political BS that came with his job. Guys like him, and (Ray) Bachand, and, currently, Girard, we should just let them do their jobs and exempt them from doing PR dance-offs. The economy would be better off, in my opinion.
Just subscribed. I want a thoughtful discussion on real needs for this country
"....nobody in politics ever has all the answers. It’s an irreducibly human pursuit. Which is why it’s always been so fascinating to cover." As you've described it here, I understand why our politics is so slow. Not a good thing during climate change. Does it have to continue irreducibly human until the end of time?
How can I reach you directly about a story lead?
If I understand correctly (I'm new to all this too), if you've signed up to receive the newsletter by email, replying to any of those emails sends a message straight to my own inbox.
Hi Paul I was hoping to talk to you about a story idea 613-581-5583
I see commentary about west vs Quebec experiences/perspectives on centralization vs decentralization in response to this article. My interest in this article is less that issue, and more the insights that can be gleaned from longer and in-depth accounts of the varied perspectives of the decision-makers we don’t get to hear much about in the mainstream/mail line media. With luck, Paul will have access to similar discussions with other “nameless” decision-makers who have been involved in some of the major challenges and changes in the fabric of the nation in recent years.
A pleasure to read ... Leitao's back story I never knew and his candour for a sitting MNA is so refreshing. Bravo.
Excellent and informative article as usual from Paul. Top notch journalists like him always find a way to help readers have a better understanding of a topic. Re the Quebec issue of the wearing of Islamic niqabs, I agree with what you wrote in the linked article re the variations of religious symbolism from a legal perspective. As much as I don't like niqabs, and long beards (religious or not), it is interesting how we're not as offended by a Sikh turban or the bald head and garb of a Buddhist monk.
A great article that is interesting to Quebecers but not so much for those in other Provinces.
I think the bit about differences in dealing with the Harper and Trudeau government was of national interest. And it was also interesting just for the general openness of the answers.
You have no interest in what's happening in provinces other than your own? How provincial. We do live in a federation after all.
Louise, as a westerner, I dislike centralization under Ottawa control every bit as much as does a Quebecer.
Louise, I somewhat agree with you.
I have at various times lived in Ontario but I was always happy to return to Alberta. I cannot provide first hand commentary on Quebec attitudes but I have spoken with many Quebecers; by contrast, I am an Albertan through and through.
As an Albertan I respectfully disagree somewhat with your description of us. Yes, we absolutely want to be left alone but it is not simply that we want to run our province like a business. Rather, it is that we see that a business can be run efficiently and we feel that the public administration of the province should be run efficiently and on a - dare I say it? - business-like basis. In other words, efficiently, albeit with the compassion and care of a good public administration. Clearly, government is not a business but that should not stop government from taking lessons from business on efficiency, etc. So, we don't want to run our province like a business but we do want to take pertinent - note, I said, pertinent - lessons from private enterprise. Further, Alberta is a fairly individualistic society which historically values self-reliance.
It is my perception of Quebec, based on conversations with Quebecers and my reading of matters, that les Quebecois are not individualistic so much as they are collectivist. That arises, I presume, because of their collective worry about their status as French speakers in a continent of (primarily) English speakers but also many Spanish speakers. To what extent, Quebec is insular, well, I cannot say with authority; it is my perception, however, that you are largely correct.