If for no other reason I would have my surgery done in Florida this time of the year. Especially, just to be sure I could get that walk in without hardship, like snow and ice etc. It's clearly his decision...people let it go...you may be the next...its bad enough dealing with you own decision.

There is no bigger mouth piece in Canada than Williams. If another political person did the same,and Williams could score political points, his big mouth would rattle for weeks. The bum should resign.

Hopefully we are still a relatively free country. In that case, he has the right to go where he wishes to go for his health care. He donates his salary as Premier to charity? How many other Canadian Premiers are that generous?
Pays for his operations and care from his own pocket ?
Leave the guy alone and let him get his care where he wishes.

I notice the Cdn healthcare bashers are in up and running. If it's so "second rate" why is it rated above the US's (along with 36 other countries who the US deems having "socialist healthcare)? And I see the wait-time issues are over used, which I suggest looking at this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_healthcare#Wait_times near the bottom-middle, that is sourced instead of having to rant.
And again, how many people have actually "died waiting in line?" A source would also be appreciated.

That being said, Mr. Williams does have the right to seek treatment elsewhere, and it is his personal private business.
If he does explain it, it shouldn't be for this crybabies, it should be on if this was the case, why he couldn't get his here, so we can fix this problem and make this system better ;).

It is nobody's busy but his own to have his surgery in the States. He owes no one an explanation as far as I'm concerned!! If he can afford to have the surgery there and can have it right away...more power to him!!! God only knows, having to wait to have stuff done in Canada these days is absolutely ridiculous. He'd probably die waiting for the surgery here in Canada!! Good luck with it all and a speedy recovery to him!

I think Mr. Williams has worked hard and earned the right to make his own personal choices on how to spend his own money on his own health. We dont need to tear the issue apart for subliminal messages... it is what it is... You Get what You Pay for. I think we all know that our health care, though free, is not what it should be. I also believe that all people have the right to privacy no matter how public their persona, it really is no ones buisness where someone chooses to get their health care. Hell, I'd have a cute young thing somewhere in the caribean taking care of all my medical things if I could afford it. Who wouldn't, really??
Its sad that he couldn't find a suitable health solutions here in Canada. Like always, Danny's actions are making a very big point.
I hope his surgery goes well and that he has a speedy recovery.
Canada needs him.
Krista Thornhill

It's not why can't a premier get the healthcare he needs in canada, it's why can't any Canadian get the healthcare they need in Canada!

It is hurtful as a Canadian to see such a high profile Canadian such as Premier Danny Williams to go to US for a surgery; I am sure any kind of heart surgery is being offered in the Country. There are very able surgeons in our country that could have addressed the issue at home.

As a premier he is supposed to set example and show people around him that our health system is as good as any and second to none. If he was a not a public figure but just a well established lawyer, he should be entitled to do as he pleases, no questions asked, his money, he should be able to spend as he likes, however it is not the question of how rich he is in this case; this should be addressed as a National issue.

In any event it is very sad to see the coxswain unable to steer the boat.

I don't think it is any of our business. It's his choice and his choice only. While I think Canada has good health care, maybe what the Premier needed he couldn't wait for it here in Canada and got the service faster in the US. This type of situation is not unheard of in our Country.

I don't think it's anyone else's business but the premier's that he has gone to the U.S. for his treatment. I think each person has to do what they think is best for themselves and should not have to explain to anyone else. If he wasn't the premier no one would know about it ony his family and friends. If he feels he would get better treatment in some other hospital, be it in Canada, U.S., or Europe, it's his prerogative and he should be able to do what he wants without having to explain to anyone else. I wish him well and will pray for him.

America has better Surgeons, facilities, and best of all, no wait line. If you where rich, would you spend your own money to get the best in care in the world or would you throw yourself at the mercy of the Canadian system and possibly die while waiting in line for second rate care?

Danny Williams as a private and wealthy Canadian citizen can chose to have surgery where ever he wants as long as it his dollars and not the tax dollars of other Canadians paying for it.

However, Danny Williams chose to become a public figure and a public representative when he ran for office. His actions in this matter are harmful to his constituents as his actions damage the credibility of the health care system that remains for those who are not wealthy enough to travel to other countries for surgery.

If Mr Williams had chosen to seek surgery in another province as his own province does not have the capacity to perform such surgery it could be a different matter. Mr Williams by this act has demonstrated that he is not ‘of and by the people’ and as a result needs to resign as no explanation can undo the harm he has caused to the public health care system and the role of elected officials. He uses wealth and privelege to seek treatment not available to his constituants rather than improving the health care system for all.

Shame on Mr Williams.

It is possible that the enormous wait list for heart surgery may have influence his decision to retreat to the United States, not to mention the horrendous state of our health care system with all these health care budget cuts......nurses are taking on a heavier load of patients while working 12 hour shifts; this obviously is going to lead to stress and fatigue and due to the time constraints of having 5-7 patients, nurses aren't able to dedicate as much time to their patients and as they used to. So, I don't blame him for opting for a private hospital that hasn't sacrificed high quality of patient care in order to save a few dollars, of course, the billions of dollars spent on the Olympics is far more beneficial for the people of Canada wouldn’t you agree?

I believe the premier should still explain why his haalthcare choice because of his political high office and power, even if he is paying for it himself... which is not know. Who knows, maybe Canada is paying part of the bill.
And why was he not able to go elsewhere in Canada to have his heart surgery?
Even if he has made space for a Canadian who needs the space as someone has already mentioned, at what cost and who's expense?
Even if Canada is not paying for it in any way, this is a signal that there is a serious problem with the Healthcare system in this country - a political figure has to cross the boarder to get his much needed surger?! A normal or even poor or underserved Canadian may have been ignored or put on a 2 year or longer waiting list and have the time to die before getting the surgery that may save their life. Would we talking about this if Danny Williams was not a political figure?

being rich has to come in handy for something

It would seem obvious that Danny boy is trying to take advantage of the situation for politcal reasons to take a cheap shot at the federal government. "But health care is a provincial resposibility. He can get the treatement he needs elsewhere, because he can afford it. Alas, that doesn't go for most Newfoundlanders. The answer, Mr. Premier, is to take care of those in your province and make possible the health services they need --at home.

It's Danny's business, it's his health, it's his money.
Leave it alone.

With such a hubbub about prorogueing, which all governments have done for years, 4 time under the previous liberals, If Harper had gone out of the country there would be uprizings in the streets, like some idiots are doing now

I think Danny Williams has the right to do as he chooses, its his money and his medical problem, and who wouldn't do what is best for themselves if it were their health, and had the options the Premier has. As for me I wouldn't have an option.

If the surgery he needs is not available in Canada, the health 'system' would send him to the US anyway, or to India or where ever. I'm in Florida getting over my heart stent implants - not because I wanted to, but had to. Thankfully, my insurance covered the $100,000 bill!

The premier can afford to go to the USA for heart surgery so he is not costing the Canadian government any money for the surgery. He is also allowing people on the surgery waiting list to get one step closer to their own surgery. I am sure there are many families with loved ones waiting for surgery that would love to know they are one patient closer to getting the surgery