This problem has been developing for a long time. The first question i asked Prime Minister Trudeau Sr. back in 1978 was about how an aging Canada could finance its social programmes in the 21st century. The last act I took as an MP in 1988 was to get agreement for the Health and Welfare Committee to study financing Medicare in the 21st century. The report was long and thoughtful; but led to no major change.

Our current Medicare system is not serving us well. At least, the current government's proposals to devote more to home health care and mental health care are promising initiatives. But, my experience in Parliament as well as long service on a large hospital board have led me to conclude that our healthcare system needs to be reformed. Increasing the roles of highly trained nurse practitioners to ease the financial costs should be brought in.  

The solution is not just to "throw more money" at the current system; it is to restructure the system to do more with comparable money.