Imagine if the Canadian government opened a chain of grocery stores and outlawed any competition. The government, through its monopoly, would dictate the types of goods and services sold and the price.

For food, Canadians would be completely at the mercy of their government. Imagine further, if some Canadians, lucky enough to live near the border, had money and/or connections could "cross-border-shop."

Canadians would rightly be outraged and demand greater choice if such a scenario were to take place.

So why are Canadians not outraged over their government's monopoly on health insurance

Canadians have choice when it comes to who insures their home, life and in some provinces their vehicle. So why not their health

There is a long held view in the Canadian psyche that state-run universal health insurance makes Canada unique or somehow better than our neighbours to the south. This attitude of wrapping the Canadian identity around the Health Canada logo has lead to the decline of Canada's health care system. It is both wasteful and counterproductive to pour a never-ending flow of tax dollars into a badly flawed monopoly system. Yet, this is where Canada currently stands.

The private sector should not be feared but embraced. Last year's Supreme Court ruling of Chaoulli v. Quebec made this perfectly clear. The court declared that: "democracies that do not impose a monopoly on the delivery of health care have successfully delivered - services that are superior to and more affordable than the services that are presently available in Canada. This demonstrates that a monopoly is not necessary or even related to the provision of quality public health care."

Since it is the provinces which have sole responsibility to deliver health care, provinces should experiment with many of the programs, services and policies that are currently very successful in Europe. For example, successes involving private sector delivery of health care can be seen in countries like, Germany, Australia, Sweden and Britain. The Chaoulli decision opens a door for any province that wishes to explore more private sector alternatives.

As stated before, Canadians already have choice when it comes to other types of insurance. Health insurance is one area provinces must look to increase competition and choice.

If implemented correctly, choice for health care insurance would be voluntary and complement the coverage provided under the province's existing universal health care insurance.

Think of it as complementary or extended warranty insurance. The universal insurance system would still be there, but the complementary health insurance (CHI) could provide choice for patients who may be unsatisfied with the service and treatment options available in the existing monopoly system.

CHI policy holders would be able to access private sector alternatives that would serve to reduce pressure on the existing monopoly system, and provide economic opportunity. Canadian schooled health professionals would not leave as readily, and Canadians who spend more than $1 billion abroad (cross-border shopping) will have the opportunity to spend their dollars here.

Complementary health insurance is just one area of innovation provinces should consider to improve Canada's failing health care system. Allowing greater competition to co-exist along side the universal system - as is done throughout the world - is key to improving Canada's health care system, and the health of Canadians.