Stephen Downes

The Fraser Institute completely misrepresents Canada's school system while explaining why it outperforms the U.S. system. It presents Ontario as a 'school choice' system and suggests there is no Federal funding for education. Though education is a provincial responsibility in Canada, and though school boards have a great deal of local autonomy, the federal government is a major funder through a variety of programs. Also, it should be noted, contra Joanne Jacobs, that Canada's health care program is run in pretty much the same manner. Hospitals are a provincial responsibility, but mostly controlled locally, by hospital boards. Health care insurance is single-payer, managed by each province individually, and people exercise a choice of provider. Then there is the Canada health act, which guarantees the insurance system, and is backed large amounts of Federal funding for health care.