ABSTRACT
The most significant development in the history of healthcare in Canada was the introduction of the Canada Health Act. In 1985, mainly in response to a simmering dispute over extra billing, Parliament passed the Canada Health Act and, some of the motivating principles behind national Medicare were made explicit. The reality is that the Canada Health Act derives its status from being a national piece of legislation. A Health Act interpreted by the provinces is no longer a Canada Health Act, but a set of provincial pieces of legislation. Community Care Access Centres are delivering publicly funded care, albeit funded at a provincial level rather than through Federal funds under the Canada Health Act. Canada shares with Australia a large land mass with its population concentrated in a small area, with all the major urban centres close to the country's southern boundary.
