But the Competition Isn't that Fierce

A letter from the Moncton Hospital to a New Brunswick heart patient in need of an electrocardiogram said the appointment would be in three months. It added: "If the person named on this computer-generated letter is deceased, please accept our sincere apologies."

Canada really is the nicest of the North American countries. The American version of this letter would have ended with "But we have to bill you for the missed appointment. Yours in grief,..." It wouldn't mention the lien placed on the person's home, but then, this is America; it wouldn't have to. As Americans, we would presume as much, the other shoe dropping and all. Yep, they're nicer in Canada.