It’s hardly news that Canadians have come to see their single-payer universal health care system as a part of the national identity. So when news broke of a Canadian campaigning against Obamacare by comparing it negatively to Canadian health care, it brought out a lot of strong emotions.

Shona Holmes of Waterdown, Ont., made the news three years ago when she spoke out against the U.S. Affordable Care Act with a story of being unable to get life-saving treatment for a brain condition in Canada. Now she’s back, starring in an anti-Obama ad from Americans for Prosperity, and making the same claim about Canadian health care.

Critics of Holmes point to news reports that Holmes suffered from a benign pituitary cyst that was hardly the “brain tumor” her supporters had alleged.

HuffPost blogger Graham Milne suggested Holmes may actually be the exception that proves the rule.

“It's telling indeed that Shona Holmes would be dragged out again three years after her initial appearance on the scene. The Kochs probably couldn't find anyone else,” he wrote, referring to the billionaire oil-baron brothers who fund Americans for Prosperity.

Here at HuffPost Canada, readers responded by telling their own stories about Canadian health care — many of them glowing endorsements of a health care system readers felt was unfairly portrayed in Holmes’ ad.

If there was something like a consensus to be had, it’s that the Canadian system can be painfully slow at times, but when a life is in danger, it springs into action — a view recently expressed by Jonathan Kay at the National Post.

Of course not everyone agreed that Canada’s health care system is superior to the U.S., and Holmes found her share of supporters as well.

”I'd rather go to my grave in the U.S. in debt, than die on the waiting lists here in Canada,” commenter MsSylv wrote.

And commenter LibertarianBoy, whose handle leaves little room for doubt as to where he stands on government-run health care, simply said this of Holmes: “God bless her.”

Check out some of the stories HuffPost readers shared about their experiences with Canadian health care.

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  • From Our Facebook Page

    Our system is not perfect, but US is 10 times worst then ours... (for the not wealthy) They can do what they want, but if they want to remortgage their house because they have cancer and need treatments, it's their choice. In Canada, you don't have to! You might wait a little and that's frustrating, but if your case is serious you will go in front of the line. simple. Proud to be Canadian and not American ! I broke bones skiing, biking in Canada, except for the ambulance, it was completely free. I don't want to imagine how much it is in the US. - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HuffPostCanada/posts/358991540845074?comment_id=2503306&offset=50&total_comments=73" target="_hplink"> Guillame Martin-Dore</a>

  • From Our Facebook Page

    I had a life threatening brain tumor. The docs here would have sent me to Johns Hopkins if they couldn't do the surgery safely here. OHIP would have paid my fees and travel costs. My surgery was cancelled once because there was a multi-vehicle pile up and other people needed the spots more than I did. Otherwise, care was excellent and timely! <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HuffPostCanada/posts/358991540845074?comment_id=2503342&offset=0&total_comments=73" target="_hplink">- Laura Cooper Lyons</a>

  • From Our Facebook Page

    My husband and I just spent 3 months living in Ottawa because our 13 year old son was diagnosed with Cancer in April and he was so very well taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we didn't wait for anything! Even before he was diagnosed and we didn't know what was wrong, the wait times for testing to figure out what the heck was going on was good, and we live in Northern Ontario! We still own our home and are not in debt to pay for treatment! Because we live in beautiful Canada :) My son is alive because we live where we do and we are forever grateful! - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HuffPostCanada/posts/358991540845074?comment_id=2503362&offset=0&total_comments=73" target="_hplink">Jennifer Guerard</a>

  • From Our Facebook Page

    They should know that everyone here gets health care. That no one is declaring bankruptcy or losing their home because of medical debts. No one is going without insurance because of pre-existing medical conditions or because they can't afford it. That it may not be fancy, but we get what we need and our government spends less per capita than theirs does. I won't say that it's a perfect system, but I'm terribly grateful that it's there for me and my family. - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HuffPostCanada/posts/358991540845074?comment_id=2503367&offset=0&total_comments=73" target="_hplink">Amanda Young Brinda</a>

  • From Our Facebook Page

    They need to know that I have my life back due to a new hip and knee....went from being crippled to leaving city life and buying a farm, working with my 6 horses, playing with 4 boisterous dogs. If I lived in the States, as a contract worker so no insurance plan, I would be immobile and probably suicidal, unable to afford what my Canadian Medicare has provided for me. What I received is truly priceless. - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HuffPostCanada/posts/358991540845074?comment_id=2503414&offset=0&total_comments=73" target="_hplink">Val Tannage </a>

  • From Our Facebook Page

    They need to know you can go to sleep every night and if illness strikes they can access health care without fear of losing their home, their life savings or incurring huge debt. They should know that they are being cared for by a system that has a far lower infant mortality rate and longer life expectancy. They Should know that their coverage won't be cancelled because of previous illness. - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HuffPostCanada/posts/358991540845074?comment_id=2503605&offset=0&total_comments=73" target="_hplink">Martin Palmer</a>