1997 and also the ongoing review from the Senate Committee chaired by Senator Kirby. In my view the Kirby reports are a worry both in terms of their disturbing content but also the intent behind them and their timing. This could detract from and upstage the work of the Romanow Commission and its final report .

The dialogue phase for the Romanow Commission has included education, receiving submissions, and open public hearings in communities across Canada . The hearings have been completed and the Commission is moving on to assessing all that they have received and heard – which is a mouthful! They plan to complete their final report in November 2002.

During the Commissions` work, coalitions including an exceptionally wide range of organizations and groups have been actively involved. Leading roles were played by the Canadian and Ontario Health Coalitions in a widespread campaign across the country to involve the public in sending the  message to Romanow  that our medicare system must be supported and enhanced. Seniors groups, including Care Watch Toronto, have been active in supporting the coalitions. Petitions in support of Public Medicare have been signed by over one hundred thousand people, door-to door thousands of volunteers have reached approximately ¼ million households to gather support and over 57 municipalities in Ontario have passed resolutions of support.

(Continued on page )

In approaching a review of the Romanow Commission I must start by stating that I strongly support a national public medicare system and I am against privatization in any of its various forms and guises. That having been said, the following are my thoughts and impressions about the Commission and its work so far.

But first a little background. The Commission was set up by the federal government in April 2001 with a mandate as set out in the Privy Council Minute as follows:

     “ - - - to inquire into and undertake dialogue with Canadians on the future of Canada`s Public Health Care System, and to recommend policies and measures, respectful of the jurisdictions and powers in Canada, required to ensure over the long term the sustainability of a universally accessible, publicly funded, health system that offers quality services to Canadians - - - .”

It soon became apparent, after the mutterings of several provincial premiers and the mass media, that any and all options were open for discussion and “ everything was on the table.” At the start there were suggestions that senior representatives in some provinces might not join in the exercise at all but gradually they trickled in. The commission planned its work in two phases – fact finding research followed by a dialogue with Canadians. The first phase included hearing from experts at home and abroad and the review of masses of studies and previous reports such a the already very comprehensive national Forum on Health of  1944 to

News and Views