Canadian Health Services Research Foundation. (2011). Provincial and Territorial Health System Priorities: An Environmental Scan. Brasset-Latulippe, A., Verma, J., Mulvale, G. & Barclay, K.: Ottawa, ON. Available from http://www.chsrf.ca/PublicationsAndResources/ResearchReports/ArticleView/11-12-17/bd8952c0-befd-415b-88d8-fa4e3991d97f.aspx.

“Healthcare in Canada is decentralized into 14 health systems—13 provinces and territories and the Federal Government. Each of these involves a mixture of urban, rural and remote settings, all facing competing priorities and constrained budgets. A recent analysis shows that health spending is rising faster than the rate of economic growth.i In this context, along with the approaching expiry of the 10-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care (2004), the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF) recognizes that this is a critical time to examine questions of health system sustainability, accessibility, quality and responsiveness.

As such, CHSRF undertook an environmental scan to explore the shared values and principles, goals and key health policy issues across provinces and territories. The scan used a framework analysis approach,ii examining strategic planning documents for the period of 2008-2011 that were available during the analysis—February-March 2011. At the same time, CHSRF consulted with senior policy-makers across provinces and territories in ministries of health, intergovernmental affairs and finance. This summary presents key findings from the framework analysis and face-to-face meetings.”