Is The Fix (for a generation) In?

In the "when pigs fly" department, we have this promise from our health minister.

Paul Martin got a lot of mileage out of the "fix healthcare for a generation" remark. The result was a first ministers' meeting where he was bludgeoned into handing over a big fat cheque, with no strings attached. I'm not necessarily saying there should be "strings", but it was clear to anyone who cared to look that the premiers were not going to think of what Paul Martin wanted them to do with the money. They have enough problems in their respective home provinces (some of which are, in fairness, of their own making, and some of which are not).

Now, we have the Supreme Court of Canada saying that the health care system, as it is practiced in Quebec, is unconstitutional. While that decision is not necessarily binding when it comes to other provinces, and while it may in any event be overturned (thanks in part to the new judges who have recently joined the Court), it should send some danger signals to those who believe in the Canadian system, and only in the Canadian system.

We also have Jack Layton demanding some sort of "action" from the PM in exchange for propping up the government till next spring. In particular, Layton wants Martin to somehow put the brakes on private clinics and the like, while apparently not closing down the ones that already exist.

Long story short, I think we have a heck of a mess on our hands. Governments are spending more on the health care system than they ever have before. That cash is, arguably, enough to keep the system from collapsing in the immediate future. It may even be enough to keep the Supreme Court off of Martin's back. But what happens when more Canadians retire? What happens when there's more demand on the system, with fewer people to fund it through their income taxes?

If you're in your 30's, do you really think the system will be there, in anything close to its present form, when you're in your 60's, no matter how many deals are cut between the Liberals and the NDP? If you're raising your hand, I admire your confidence - you have more of it than I.

So, the problems are daunting. The solutions? Hey, if I had sure-thing solutions, I'd be running for office. But I do have some thoughts, which I'll cover shortly. Hopefully you do as well - and the comments section is open.

More later.