02/02/10
N.L. Premier Williams
set to have heart surgery in U.S.
Kenyon Wallace, National Post
Photo by Keith Gosse
"I can confirm that Premier Williams did leave the province
this morning and will be undergoing heart surgery later this
week," said Mr. Williams' spokeswoman, Elizabeth Matthews.
Newfoundland Premier Danny Williams will undergo heart surgery later this week
in the United States.
Mr. Williams, 59, has said nothing of his health in the media. The premier's
press secretary confirmed the report Monday evening.
Deputy premier Kathy Dunderdale confirmed the treatment at a news conference
Tuesday, but would not reveal the location of the operation or how it would be
paid for.
Ms. Dunderdale will become acting premier while Williams is away. He is expected
to be away from four to six weeks.
For many, the Premier's need for heart surgery comes as a surprise, especially
in light of the fact he is an avid hockey player and has shown no outward signs
of illness as of late.
On Friday, Mr. Williams met with Prime Minister Stephen Harper and while
speaking to reporters seemed healthy and in good spirits.
A decision to leave Canada for the surgery, especially if it is available here,
raises questions about the Premier's confidence in Newfoundland's health care
system.
* * * * *
But I was told that Canada has an excellent government controlled health system just like the obuma administration wants to install in the U.S.
Maybe Premier Williams had a heart condition that required surgery now, not when he reached the top of the waiting list.
Maybe he learned that at age 59 he was too old to qualify for that particular surgery.
What would he have done if obumacare was already in effect here? (I've heard of a decent doctor in the Dominican Republic, but I'm not telling anyone about him because I don't want to fight a crowd if I need to see him.)