For much of the past decade, Canadians named health care the most important issue facing Canada. But recently the public spotlight has shifted to other issues, like climate change and the global economic crisis.

This may be part of the reason why many say that health care policy over the past few years has lacked vision and boldness. Rather than planning for the future by supporting research, harnessing technology, and finding new sources of health care funding, governments seem fixated on containing the cost demands of the present.

The articles below, written by some of Canada's top health care analysts, researchers, and policy makers, suggest ways in which governments can not only bring costs under under control, but also make Canada's health care system the envy of the world.