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Articles by Colin Craig
Opinion: Canada's hospitals do poorly in online reviews
Our new paper for SecondStreet.org finds that in reviews they post with Google, Canadians give the country's major hospitals an average score of just 2.88 stars out of five. Many of us would take a pass on a restaurant with such a low score, but we often have no choice when it comes to our hospitals. We looked at nearly 9,000 comments left by patients on Google Maps reviews for 84 major hospitals, with each having at least 30 reviews.
Opinion: Mark Carney deserves health-care praise
Prime Minister Mark Carney deserves praise for being open to the changes Alberta is currently implementing in health care. Like most European countries, Alberta will keep its public system but will now make it much easier for patients to pay for private treatment in Alberta if they want to. This is good news for patients. European mixed systems perform much better than Canada's health-care monopolies.
Some Canadians see their doctor a lot! Original
Skip to Content Curtailing over-use and abuse of the medical system could free up resources to help undeserved Canadians Most patients and doctors are almost certainly ethical when it comes to using and billing the system. But a nation of over 40 million people is bound to include some bad apples. If you’re like most Canadians, you often have trouble getting to see your family doctor. But some Canadians don’t have any trouble at all.
Health system must be as accountable as the rest of us
If the government catches you fishing without a licence you could receive a $298 fine. Similarly, you’ll face a $143 fine if you haven’t updated the address on your driver’s licence after moving. These are just a couple examples of the various fines Manitobans face for relatively small mistakes. So what happened when the government’s health system accidentally let patient Debbie Fewster die on a waitlist? There were no consequences, according to a freedom of information response from Shared Health.
Opinion: Alberta takes the lead on health-care reform
Despite charges of "Americanization!", the changes Alberta is making mimic cheaper and more effective European models We will all have to wait and see how effectively the government implements these changes, but at least Alberta is trying something bold when it comes to health care costs. If we all resolve to be honest for the New Year, we can agree that no Canadian political party has done a good job on health care over the past 30 years.
Opinion: Alberta takes the lead on health-care reform
If we all resolve to be honest for the New Year, we can agree that no Canadian political party has done a good job on health care over the past 30 years. Liberals, Conservatives and NDPers have all had several turns running provincial governments yet no one has delivered acceptable results consistently. Why? Because they’ve all largely done the same thing: spend more money and hope things work out.
Opinion: Alberta’s charter schools are a model for the country Original
Advertisement 1 They offer parents more choice, teachers like the approach to discipline and students score better on provincewide tests Article content Governments fund K-12 education so all children can gain the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in adulthood. What’s the best way to achieve that goal? Governments running their own schools using tax dollars? Or sending the money to schools run by non-profits?
CRAIG: Many cities using tax dollars to give staff multiple pensions
Imagine if your boss knocked on your door and announced that you’re going to receive two pensions upon retirement. That would be quite the surprise! Most people – especially those working outside government – would be elated just to have a single workplace pension. But new research released by SecondStreet.org shows over 8,500 city employees in major cities are set to receive not just a generous main pension, but a second pension top-up – extra icing on an already large piece of cake, if you will.
CRAIG: Many cities using tax dollars to give staff multiple pensions
• • You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. Article content Imagine if your boss knocked on your door and announced that you’re going to receive two pensions upon retirement. That would be quite the surprise! Most people – especially those working outside government – would be elated just to have a single workplace pension.
Colin Craig: Health reform is a hit with seniors-so where are the federal parties?
Canadian federal politics was turned upside down in the last election as many younger Canadians shifted to support the Conservative Party, while a large segment of seniors sidestepped to the Liberals. Pundits and experts have discussed the change at length. But something that has received less attention is: How to earn the support of those swing voters come the next election? When it comes to the seniors’ vote, health reform could be the answer.
Opinion: Japan — land of no health-care wait times
Skip to Content Advertisement 1 Japan keeps waits short by letting any qualified supplier provide care, allowing modest top-up fees and encouraging healthy lifestyles Article content “A year!” exclaimed Dr. Yoshifumi Ikeda, medical director of a university hospital in Tokyo after we described the surgical wait times Canadian patients often face. The doctor was so shocked he switched from Japanese to English.
CRAIG: Canada could learn from Japan's health-care system Original
In Japan, patients receive treatment right away — today if it’s an emergency or in the next couple weeks if it’s urgent. A month maximum. Unlike Canada, no one has to wait six months just to see a specialist or a year for surgery. Our think-tank, SecondStreet.org, visited the Asian country earlier this year to make a documentary on their system and see what Canada could learn.
CRAIG: Canada could learn from Japan's health-care system
Japan's universal system covers all patients, no one faces large bill, so how do they do it? Published Aug 24, 2025 • 3 minute read You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. Hospital director Dr. Yutaka Kobayashi holds the hand of a 94-year-old coronavirus patient on a coronavirus ward at Sakura General Hospital on Feb. 10, 2021, in Oguchi, Japan.
Colin Craig: A roadmap to more choice in health care
Canada is a strange place when it comes to health care. You could spend your whole paycheque on fast food and alcohol—products that are clearly unhealthy in excess—and the government is fine with that. But, generally speaking, the government won’t let you spend your paycheque on private surgery at a local clinic in order to help your body—a hip operation, knee surgery, etc.
Opinion: Hospitals need to be up front about unsafe wait times
Advertisement 1 Patients need to know when they should start looking for private or out-of-province alternatives for crucial surgeries Article content What happens if a car company discovers a safety problem with a vehicle it has sold? Federal law requires the company to inform customers right away: the same disclosure is required if a food distributor has sold lettuce touched by e-coli. These are reasonable safety requirements that governments have imposed on businesses.
Opinion: Debbie’s Law: a common-sense change
By: Colin Craig Posted: 2:00 AM CDT Friday, Mar. 21, 2025 Imagine meeting with a specialist about some chest problems you’ve been having. After a few tests, you’re told you have a very serious heart problem and require surgery within three weeks. Read this article for free: Email Address: Password: I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Already have an account?
Colin Craig: Make Canada healthy again
Seventy-seven percent of young Americans are unfit to serve in the military due to being overweight, using drugs, mental health problems, or other health issues. It’s fairly well known that the U.S. population as a whole—not just young people—isn’t exactly known for healthy living. In Canada, we also have significant health issues.
Opinion: Patients dying on waitlists are finally getting political attention Original
In the past four months, politicians from across the political spectrum have started talking about something really important — patients dying on waiting lists. It’s about time. In Alberta, the NDP’s health critic raised concerns about SecondStreet.org research that found the provincial government has stopped tracking data on patients dying while waiting for health services.
15,474 Canadians Died Waiting for Health Care in 2023-24
Data shows nearly 75,000 waiting list deaths since 2018-19, covering a wide range of surgical and diagnostic services No government discloses the data publicly despite shaming businesses publicly for mouldy soup cans found during restaurant inspections. Today, SecondStreet.org released government data showing an additional 15,474 patients in Canada died in 2023-24 before receiving various surgeries or diagnostic scans.
Opinion: Smith should pilot health reform idea instead of teasing it Original
Advertisement 1 • • You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account. Article content Premier Danielle Smith continues to play footsie with a really good health-care policy idea in place throughout the European Union. It could particularly help low- and middle-income patients in Alberta and it polls well, to boot. Instead of musing about it, the premier would be wise to try it out as a pilot project.
Opinion: Canadian health care needs to be more accountable to patients Original
Governments hold businesses to high standards of transparency. When something goes wrong in our health system, the public should know about it Published Sep 10, 2024 • Last updated 13 minutes ago • 3 minute read You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.
Opinion: Canadian health care needs to be more accountable to patients
Governments hold businesses to high standards of transparency. When something goes wrong in our health system, the public should know about it A doctor examines a patient with a stethoscope in her doctor's office Photo by Thomas Kienzle /The Canadian Press/Associated Press Article content By Colin Craig Advertisement 2 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
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