For state-covered, non-life-threatening treatments we can go to any doctor we want, but we might have to wait some time for the specialist we want. If you need urgent care in emergency at a hospital you get the best, for free, immediately, at least in Toronto. You do not get billed. Even brain surgery. Best care, several opinions, no bill. Are there problems? of course. Can we continue with an ageing population? Who knows. Maybe theadvancedapes or sounds_sound can chime in about his experience in Canada - although he's a healthy guy (or so it seems).One advantage the U.S. has is that people can go to any doctor that they want to, provided that they have the money.
There's a lot of misinformation being spread about the Canadian health care system. Canadians can go to any doctor they want. If they have money, they can join a for-profit Cleveland Clinic or one of their competitors.