Earlier quoted context omitted.
There's a public sector salary cap in many parts of Canada, despite roaring inflation. And a general vibe from the public and the government that generally despises public sector unions and would almost certainly backlash against nurses and teachers should they sensibly decide to go on strike. For two years they busted their asses for the public in tough straits and now COVID numbers in the hospital system are still…
No comment on unions but I never understood the salary caps, especially that new one for nurses. That's the opposite of what we should be doing.
The Conservatives (and to some extent some Liberals as well) have been playing a long game -- since the 70s when it was introduced -- to get rid of medicare.
It's incredibly popular with Canadians as a whole, but if you take conservative leadership aside, get them drunk, and get them to speak honestly ... they want it gone. Or at the very least, severely curtailed and a private option introduced.
Klein tried to do it in Alberta in the 90s (bring in more extensive private services) and the feds (under Chretien) beat him back in the courts. But now they're getting quite open again about it in both Alberta and Ontario and pitching it as a solution to a crisis. A crisis they helped creat.
EDIT: again, I think the system needs reforming. But likely not the way they want it reformed.