I'm not sure if there's a significant difference between the two. I know it was the intention of the panel to see that any new regime would be operated at some arm's length from political pressure so that it could be an evidence-based system that was directly accountable to Canadians both as patients and as taxpayers.
I think it's important, however, that any new public insurance plan reflects the intent and spirit of the Canada Health Act, and I think members of the panel were surprised to see that our existing patchwork approach is not consistent with those principles. Perhaps, besides universality, the key concern was the degree of variability that exists across the country. That's why, in working with the provinces and the territories, they call for national federal action.