Klein, I live 30 minutes from the border and 1 hour from Montreal and don't have the slightest idea how National Healthcare works.
Well, I guess you don't interact with the Canadian vistors, as much as the more service sector does (cab drivers, bartenders, waitresses, hotel managers, etc).
I was actually at the MIller Alehouse in Florida... when the waitress asked me about our Healthcare (me having a cdn sweater jacket on).
I told her how it was: First of all she would get a wage increase to atleast $8.50/hr (min wage here), secondly from that income, you need to declare 10% tips, (not more).
Never need to worry about healthcare costs, but expect about a 25% deduction from gross pay. (earn $400 a week = $300 net).
She just responded: "I sure wished we had that here !"
Can't recall now, if I told her how much more cigs and booze are here though. But, I sure pointed that out, almost everywhere I went.
Those items are extra taxed for healthcare costs.