Canadians love debating the state of our health care system. Or should I say, our 14 health care systems.

Health care, according to our constitution, is a provincial responsibility, except for the First Nations, whose needs are supposed to be attended to by the federal government.

So, 10 provinces, 3 territories, and 1 federal government all have a role to play in keeping Canadians healthy, and treating them when they’re sick.

The only person who’s been Ontario Minster of Health AND federal Minister of Health is Tony Clement.

Clement has had one of the most up and down political careers of anyone I know. He ran and lost for municipal council in Toronto. He ran and won twice as a Brampton MPP in the Mike Harris years.

Then he took a real sour turn, losing the provincial PC leadership race to Ernie Eves; his own Ontario seat in the ensuing provincial election in 2003; and the federal Conservative Party’s leadership to Stephen Harper.

When he ran for MP of Parry Sound-Muskoka in January 2006, he only won by 28 votes.

So tonight, we’ll talk health care with a guy who’s seen it from both sides of the federal-provincial street.

And if you’re curious about what Clement, the local politician is up to, as opposed to Clement the health minister, click on the video link at the top of the column to the right.