I think it's important for the federal government to provide leadership, but not in educating doctors. There are some areas that are obviously under provincial management, but at the federal government level we require some oversight and guardianship, some leadership to encourage innovations in the public system to solve problems, and some funding. Those are the areas that we see lacking right now--that kind of commitment to grow the system, to build the system, to expand it. Public insurance works, but we need more of it to cover prescription drugs and home care services. That won't happen without the federal government contributing to cost sharing.
I would like to see the committee get specific in its recommendations, for example, that the federal government share 25% of the costs of pharmaceuticals as a major step forward, as foreseen in the health accord. What's been lacking is the financial commitment to come to the table to build the expansion of a public system. I think everyone here knows, as Elisabeth said, that there are public solutions to questions, and they've been documented by the Health Council of Canada. The question is why everyone else isn't pursuing those successful models. That's where we need the guardian to push and to make sure we get value for our money.