A visit to the West Wing (updated - 28 photos)

No, Paul Martin isn't running for president of the United States.

But he did pay a visit yesterday to the West Wing of Sault Ste. Marie's Group Health Centre, touting the innovative primary care centre as a model for Canada and the world.

The Prime Minister's visit was a short one, not much more than 35 minutes.

He met some of the health centre brass. He met some front-line workers, too.

Martin was seen chatting with Dr. Lewis O'Brien, and also with Dr. Patti Avery of the Algoma District Medical Group's board of directors, dietician Cynthia McKay and nurse practitioner Wendy Payne.

Much of the discussion focussed on GHC's innovative electronic medical records system, which ties together a wide range of health services including diagnostic imaging, counselling, palliative care and others, all offered under the same roof.

Dietician McKay explained to the prime minister how GHC health records are reviewed before consulting with patients, to develop suggestions for controlling disease through dietary choices.

Wendy Payne outlined the critical role played by nurse practitioners at the centre, a role that Martin's Liberal government wants to expand.

(To see a gallery of photos from Martin's visit to the Group Health Centre, please click here. The first four images were supplied by the Group Health Centre. The remainder were taken by SooToday.com.)

A playful mood

Martin appeared to be in high spirits during his visit.

Shown a sample electronic record from a diabetic patient and asked whether he could recognize a normal blood sugar reading, the Prime Minister acknowledged that he couldn't.

"Do you know what Carmen's blood sugar is?" he asked, referring to Sault MP Carmen Provenzano, who was at his side for much of the GHC tour.

Dropping into a triage room, Martin quipped that his own medical chart indicated "tremendous body, great shape."

Picking up one of the many red central appointment phones that can be found throughout the GHC, the Prime Minister started joking again, this time indicating he wished to book an appointment for Provenzano.

"P-R-O-V- ...." he instructed the hospital's booking staff.

Election promises, and promises about promises

Speaking to reporters later in an informal scrum in the GHC lobby, Martin shifted into election-promise mode.

"We are going to make the Canadian health care system the strongest publicly-funded, universally-accessible health care system in the world, and we are going to maintain it that way," the prime minister said.

Martin cited the Group Health Centre's high rate of physician retention as an example of what needs to happen elsewhere in Canada. "You go across the country, people talk to you about how do we get doctors, and all of a sudden you come here and you see exactly what it is you have to do."

From there, the scrum proceeded into a discussion about whether Liberals keep their promises, prompted by the failure of Dalton McGuinty's Ontario Liberal government to keep a key campaign promise to balance the budget and introduce no new taxes. (McGuinty's recent provincial budget added a new health premium and new taxes on alcohol and cigarettes.)

A promise to resign

In addition to creating the world's strongest publicly funded health care system, Martin also promised to "stay out of deficit, maintain our social programs and I can assure you we are going to do that."

And, he's promising to resign if he can't deliver on those three promises within two years.

Promise-keeping was clearly the talking-point of the day as Carmen Provenzano and other local Liberals sported locally made "Paul Martin: He says it. He does it" lapel buttons.

And Martin didn't have an easy go of it while campaigning here in the Sault.

The prime minister took considerable flack after his RCMP security detail forced a group of labour demosntrators to leave the Group Health Centre parking lot.

Steelworkers forced from parking lot

The protesters represented, among others, the United Steelworkers and America and the Canadian Union of Public Employees, both integrally involved founding and building the Group Health Centre over the past four decades.

To read reaction from NDP candidate Tony Martin about the RCMP's actions, please click here.

To read reaction from Arlene Pitts, Sean Meades and Rae-ann Iacucci, who appeared at the demonstration as the Sault Ste. Marie Radical Cheerleaders, please click on this.

Aldo Mellea gives Martin the Roto-Rooter treatment

Outside the downtown Holiday Inn, the Prime Minister was collared by Aldo Mellea, a 59-year-old retired plumber who told Martin he's been a Liberal supporter throughout his life, but this time, it will be different.

"Because of that sponsorship program, I don't think I'm going to vote this time," Mellea is quoted by Stephanie Rubec of the Sun newspaper chain.

"I mean, if you're running the household and you're running the finances how could you not know that there's $250 million missing?" It's almost impossible. I think he knew about it," Mellea said.

Mellea thinks Martin is clearly the best leader for the country, but he also believes a minority government is needed to make sure the whole truth about AdScam is made public.