Romanow said Tuesday he is open to all ideas for medicare reform but he begins his task as someone who admires the five basic principles the Canada Health Act, including the principle of public administration.

The commission, which begins work May 1, is expected to conduct consultations across the country. Quebec has vowed to shun the the review but Romanow said that will not stop him from visiting the province and trying to convince the province's separatist government to take part.

"We all recognize . . . that the principles of medicare are the foundation of our health-care house, and we recognize that we need to renovate the rooms of this house for the 21st century," Romanow told a news conference after being appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chretien.

Quebec insists that health is a matter of provincial jurisdiction and has rejected federal attempts to set national standards. However, premiers in most provinces have been supportive of the inquiry. With a third to half of their budgets on health, they want ideas for containing costs.

"(Romanow) is well aware . . . that sustainability on into the future of our system as it exists today is a very, very real concern," said Ontario Premier Mike Harris, adding that costs are the top issue.

Kathleen Connors, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, said Romanow is the right person to lead the inquiry because he has the respect of his colleagues. "We want to see a clear definition of what health-care system for the future for all Canadians will look like," she said.

Romanow says he has no guarantee his recommendations will be adopted when he is finished. But NDP Leader Alexa McDonough said the former NDP premier would not have taken the job unless he felt his proposals would be given serious consideration. (5 April 2001)