Establishment of the Romanow Commission
In April 2001 Prime Minister Jean Chrétien appointed former Saskatchewan Premier Roy Romanow as a one-man Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada. Romanow reported directly to the Prime Minister. He started his work on May 1, 2001 and the final report of the Commission was tabled in November 2002.
Romanow Commission Terms of Reference
Supported by a small secretariat, Mr. Romanow was given the task of looking at the long-term challenges of maintaining a public, universal health care system in Canada - including changing demographics, rising costs, and new technologies - and recommending government policies and programs to balance health maintenance with health care and treatment.
The Romanow Commission was expected to build on the September 2000 Health Agreement endorsed by the Prime Minister and the provincial and territorial premiers, which included a federal infusion of funds to help with the medium and short-term pressures on the Canadian health care system. It was also expected that the Romanow Commission would draw on the work of recent provincial commissions, such as the Clair Commission in Quebec and the Fyke Commission in Saskatchewan.
Romanow Commission Hearings
The first nine months of Romanow's mandate were spent on fact-finding and public education. In February 2002, the Romanow Commission released an interim report to be used as the basis for a dialogue with Canadians.
The public hearings phase of the Romanow Commission began in March 2002, as the Commission crossed the country to consult with Canadians face to face in 18 cities. Romanow's consultations included provincial and territorial governments, health professionals, stakeholders and concerned Canadians.
Romanow made it clear that Medicare in Canada needed "remodeling but not demolishing." He asked Canadians to identify what they wanted and expected from the health care system, and what they and politicians had to do to meet those objectives. Some of the topics he raised for public discussion were:
- financing health care - how to raise revenues
- timely access - what can be done about wait lists
- services - who decides what services are covered
- home care - is a national strategy needed and affordable?
- pharmacare - is a national strategy needed and affordable?
- medical and health care professionals - how to increase the capacity
- consumer choice - is there room in a publicly funded system?
- aboriginal peoples health - how it can be improved
The final report of the Romanow Commission, Building on Values: The Future of Health Care in Canada, was released in November 2002.
