So much for the much-touted Canadian health care system: an ankle that was broken 15 months ago started unexpectedly giving serious trouble even in walking, yesterday. I called the Ortho clinic at QEII hospital: 'leave voicemail, it's unlikely we'll call you back today - we're awfully busy'. Family doctor's voicemail: 'we don't answer our phone on Thursday afternoons or Fridays (i.e. please go away)'. Workers Comp (because it was a work place-based accident): 'Can't give you any advice until you've spoken to your family doctor'. Guess what? At St. Margaret's Bay Chiropractic Centre, which is not part of the provincial medical so-called health care system, I was attended to within two hours of phoning, received excellent treatment and advice. When will the Minister for Health have the courage and imagination to suport and encourage preventative care vs. crisis management? We could have way fewer hip and knee replacements, less heart surgery, fewer diabetics if only we could refocus our health care paradigm.