91快色

While Canada faces legitimate challenges coming out of a divisive federal election, two of its former prime ministers stress that our country remains a global example of opportunity, prosperity and civility.

On Oct. 31, Stephen Harper and Jean Chr茅tien, ideological rivals and political opponents, shared a stage at the Hyatt Regency in 91快色 for Where Does Canada Go From Here? A Conversation with Two Prime Ministers, hosted by the at the .

鈥淲hen you talk about the types of problems that are confronted everywhere, it鈥檚 very difficult. Here we are an example. We need more Canada in the world,鈥� Chr茅tien said to more than 450 guests who attended the event.

From pipelines, to equalization, to western alienation, Harper and Chr茅tien examined many of today鈥檚 biggest political challenges through the lens of their long political careers. When it comes to the future of Alberta鈥檚 oil and gas industry, particularly building pipelines to export Canadian oil to world markets, Harper says there is global appetite for Alberta oil.

鈥淓verywhere in the world, United States, Europe, Asia  鈥� if we can get our oil to tidewater, they will invest in it, they will buy it. The only place in the world where there seems to be some questioning of that is in this country,鈥� he said.

While Chr茅tien agreed that it is in the interest of the Government of Canada and its people to market its natural resources, in the face of many layers of opposition, he says that can be easier said than done.

鈥淢r. Harper was prime minister for 10 years. There was no pipeline built through B.C., or going to the United States or to the East because 鈥� I don鈥檛 know 鈥� but it was not built,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was too complicated, it was a minority government 鈥� there was always a reason. I don鈥檛 blame you, I鈥檝e been in government, but it is the reality that the pipelines were not built.鈥�

With increasingly polarizing political rhetoric becoming the norm, the two prime ministers showed how very different political leaders are able to discuss issues openly and objectively, says Dr. William Ghali, MD, O鈥橞rien Institute scientific director. 鈥淎lthough they respectfully disagree on many topics, it is clear that both former prime ministers put the interests and well-being of Canadians first.鈥� 

Discourse, politics and well-being are intrinsically and necessarily linked, says Ghali, adding that this is why the institute must foster these kinds, and this level, of discussions.

鈥淲ith the recent election, the future of Canada is on our mind. It was an honour to host the coming together of two of Canada鈥檚 great statesmen to discuss some of the most challenging issues facing Canada today 鈥� many of which affect, either directly or indirectly, the health of our populations.鈥�  

The re-emergence of Western and Quebec alienation were issues the former prime ministers agreed shouldn鈥檛 be ignored in the wake of rising global nationalism. 

鈥淚n terms of how tough our conflicts are, I don鈥檛 want to minimize them 鈥� the conflicts that we鈥檙e talking about that affect Alberta and Saskatchewan, these are damaging our livelihoods, these are materially hurting people all over these provinces and I think ultimately they are going to hurt people all across the country,鈥� said Harper.

While acknowledging Canada鈥檚 challenges, Harper echoed Chr茅tien in praising the nation. 鈥淵ou know, the United States is a marvelous country, but a person of no means, no connections, of any background has so much more opportunity in Canada than even in the United States. It鈥檚 inconceivable in the United States that a Jean Chr茅tien or a Stephen Harper would ever have been president,鈥� he said. 

Where Does Canada Go From Here was a fundraising event for the O鈥橞rien Institute, an organization that donor Gail O鈥橞rien and her husband, David, remain proud to support.

鈥淗ealth care in the 21st century has become prohibitively costly,鈥� says O鈥橞rien. 鈥淣ew ways of delivering care and a focus on prevention have become an imperative, and we felt this institute, through its research, could make important inroads in improving more efficient and effective systems of health-care delivery, new models of care such as care at home, and sophisticated new ways to create knowledge enabling the prediction of illness, and guiding prevention strategies.鈥�

William Ghali is a professor in the departments of and , scientific director of the O鈥橞rien Institute for Public Health, and a member of the at the CSM.

The O'Brien Institute for Public Health at the 91快色 supports excellence in population health and health services research, realizing the benefits of such research by informing community, policy and health-practice stakeholders. The institute's membership includes more than 500 multidisciplinary researchers from 13 Cumming School of Medicine departments and nine other 91快色 faculties, such as Nursing, Veterinary Medicine, Kinesiology and Arts; health professionals in Alberta Health Services; and research users and policy-makers from municipal and provincial institutions. As an institute, we share a vision of "Better health and health care" reflecting our two priority research areas of Improved Population Health and Enhanced Health Systems Performance.