“On health care, Paul Martin’s credibility gap continues to widen,” says Harper

Conservative leader Stephen Harper visited Sault Ste. Marie today and said Paul Martin should have said no to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and Liberal campaign chair David Herle about their actual plans for health care instead of manufacturing a false debate on yet-to-be announced health reforms.

“On health care, Paul Martin’s credibility gap continues to widen,” said Harper. “The man who made the first and deepest cuts; the man who has presided over a doubling of health care waiting lists is now manufacturing imaginary issues to position himself as a defender of health care; the one who will say no to the Premiers.”

“Well, Paul Martin had an opportunity to say no. When Dalton McGuinty told him he was going to impose a health tax, he could have said no but he didn’t. When McGuinty told him he was going to de-list services, he could have said no but he didn’t. And he could have said no to David Herle’s involvement in the health tax but he didn’t.”

The Conservative leader re-iterated his strong support for Canada’s system of universal public health insurance and noted that he uses the system exclusively. “Canadians want a leader who shares their worries, not someone who can go back to his private executive health clinic if things don’t work out.”