Richard Norman, a grad student at Dalhousie University, teamed up with Tim Mak from McGill University and won the Fraser Institute's first video contest.

The Fraser Institute is a think-tank with offices all over North America and has research ties with similar independent research groups in more than 70 countries.

According to their website, they attempt to "discuss complex economic subjects in a manner that can be easily understood by everyone."

They hosted a contest to encourage debate and find solutions for the problems with Canada's health care system.

Richard Norman is familiar with competitions hosted by the Fraser Institute - he won an essay competition on the same subject last year. "So that encouraged me to compete again," he said in an email.

Norman thinks health care reform is desperately needed in Canada and he's happy to see the Fraser Institute promoting it.

"So much of the debate about health care is purely ideological and refuses to look at practical considerations," he wrote.

Norman says the debate is framed by the NDP and special interest groups "as zero-sum: either Canada has a private health care system exclusively for the rich or a publicly funded system for everyone."

He feels a mixed system would combine the best of both worlds and points to the success of such systems in Europe as great examples.

"It allows the public system to run more efficiently and reduces wait lines," wrote Norman.

Norman and Mak's video involves a dog receiving better health care at a private vet's office than a human at a hospital.

"Richard and Tim's entry used a humorous approach to show how economics can be used to explain the Canadian health-care crisis. The creators should be congratulated for their skill and creativity," said Vanessa Schneider, Fraser Institute director of education programs, in a press release dated Jan. 19.

The entry earned the students $2,000, which more than covered the cost of making it.

Norman revealed, "The only cost involved was $70 for the dog suit."