Is it just me or does seem that every three years or so Albertans have to beat back another Tory attempt to privatize our health- care system?

No, that perception is correct - they have made repeated attempts to privatize, despite Albertans' insistence that they stop.

We hate to have to report that the Conservatives are up to no good again. And, this latest attack on Medicare may end up being the most difficult to defeat yet. Unlike the last time, they are not putting out a clear plan or package. Instead, they are dribbling it out in pieces - some cutbacks to seniors' benefits here, some opening of doors to private insurance there - and before you know it, we are on our way to an American-style system.

But we should not get caught in the trap of defending everything about our current health-care system. Medicare is in need of reform, but it needs to be the kind of reform that improves and expands health-care access for Canadians.

We have to talk about the threats to it, but also what else we can do to strengthen it for the 21st century. That is the conversation this issue of Union hopes to start.

Enjoy your reading.