Well, That Explains It

This funny use of parantheses comes from the Guardian's Amy Goodman, who was likening the effect that Vermont's adoption of single-payer health-care might have on the rest of the United States, to the effect that Saskatchewan's adoption had on Canada in the 1960s.

"Canada's single payer healthcare system started as an experiment in one province, Saskatchewan. It was pushed through in the early 1960s by Saskatchewan's premier, Tommy Douglas, considered by many to be the greatest Canadian. It was so successful, it was rapidly adopted by all of Canada. (Douglas is the grandfather of actor Kiefer Sutherland.) Perhaps Vermont's healthcare law will start a similar, national transformation."

It makes it seem as if the reason Saskatchewan and the rest of Canada went along with government health care was as a result of the great esteem in which Canadians held Kiefer Sutherland. This is doubtful, as Mr, Sutherland was not born until 1966, and did not achieve real fame until considerably later.