Health committee  The next time they say that to you, you say, “Listen, pumpkin. I peed on a stick.” Forty-three years ago, I was peeing on a stick. The first glucose monitors were like cases. You had to put your whole hand in. We have really come a long way. Look, insulin was invented in this province.

Health committee  I know.

Health committee  We didn't die with OHIP.

Health committee  I'm sorry I asked, sir.

Health committee  Oh, yes. I could do a lot more. Hopefully, it would help with the other disabilities I have, but the fact that I didn't have to worry about where every little bit was coming from, I can't begin to tell you what that would do for my life. It would just lift a big burden. Right now I live every day to survive to get the next...I'm like a drug addict.

Health committee  How would it change my life? It would be like Christmas. It would be everything rolled into one. What would it mean for me? I'm 63. It would mean that I could look forward to seeing my four granddaughters and I could live with less anxiety and less stress. I would know that it was there for me.

Health committee  I'm not going to Hawaii.

Health committee  No, but I lived in New Zealand. I had my first daughter in New Zealand, and they had national pharmacare then, years ago.

Health committee  You paid $5—

Health committee  —and they were better at managing my diabetes than Canada ever was. I paid $5 to go to the doctor. You just went to the chemist then and got all your meds. It was absolutely heavenly. You went in and presented your scrips and no questions, no problems. If you had any issues, they dealt with them right there.

Health committee  For insulin. It would be nice not to feel so criminal. I just want to be able to function.

Health committee  I went bankrupt.

Health committee  —and the embarrassment.

Health committee  I was 18 and I was in Don Mills, I think. I had just got married and I think I went to the doctor to get the pill. The doctor did some blood work and he said, “Oh, you know what? Your blood sugar's really high. You must be diabetic.” Then he sent me for—oh, you guys are going to love this.

Health committee  I don't know what I'd do with myself if I didn't have to pay for insulin.