When I look at some of the areas that have fallen through the cracks, particularly seniors care and congregate-living environments, I don't really like to always start with money. I recognize that money is the start tool, but over the last number of years what was once a fifty-fity split between Ottawa and the provinces has, for probably a very good reason, shifted. There is a great debate about what the number is today. Some would say it's 30¢, some others would say it's 22¢. I would leave the debate to the experts.
I do think that we see the consequences of costs increasing beyond funding. In most health care systems in the world, we're seeing a 4% to 5% increase per year, and I'll just give you an example. At the University Health Network in the last year, we saw a 0.3% increase, meaning that every year we're looking for approximately 3% savings in the system, at the same time the population is growing and aging at 1.9%.
Unless we revisit how we're going to cost-share these programs, I believe we will continue to run the risk of their being further eroded. My great worry, of course, is that those with the least-loud voice—shelter dwellers, the homeless and seniors—will do least well in a system where resources are scarce.