Abstract

Comprehensive medical and hospital insurance systems have been in place across Canada for more than a generation. In fact, 2002 marks the thirtieth anniversary of the completion of provincial plans. Increasingly, a sense of uncertainty regarding the quality of service and sustainability of Canadian medicare is being expressed by the public (Milne 2001) and providers (Medical Post 2001). Additional evidence of this concern is found in the current proliferation of federal and provincial healthcare inquiries and advisory bodies (Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada 2001).