"Since the US acts as a safety valve for Canada (look at the number of Canadians getting treatment in the US)..."

While I don't doubt that there ARE Canadians who travel to the United States for medical treatment, I'd be curious as to the percentage of the population.

Growing up in both countries, I can say with certainty I had less hesitations in the Canadian system. In America, I worry all the time about switching jobs and figuring out healthplans. In Canada, I always assumed that I'd be covered in some form.