But the prospect is diminishing that governments will be able to meet that demand without significant reforms to the way we provide care and the infusion of a lot more money than taxpayers seem willing to provide to keep afloat the public system as we now know it.

While in opposition, the New Democrats had a lot to say about health care, with specific complaints about the way the Liberals were running the system.

Before he became leader, Adrian Dix was the NDP's health critic.

In his last session of the legislature in that role, Dix grilled the Liberals over a range of health care issues that one might reasonably assume would be part of the NDP's plan to do things differently.

But when the health plank of the NDP's platform was unveiled a couple of weeks ago, it didn't look much different than the promises the Liberals were making and it made no mention of the issue that consumed much of his attention as a critic - the growing role of private clinics.

While in opposition, Dix attacked the government for not doing enough to investigate whether they were in violation of the Canada Health Act and to bring in penalties to prevent extra billing.

He told Sun columnist Vaughn Palmer that he wouldn't allow doctors who worked in private clinics to also work in the public system.

He and other New Democrats also attacked the government for contracting out cleaning and other services in public health facilities.

Given the financial restraints imposed by the promise to cost out and pay for campaign promises, it's not too surprising that the opposition complaints over the amount of money being put into health care didn't translate into promises to pump a lot more money into the system.

Indeed, in the first year of an NDP government, funding for health care is projected to increase by just $24 million. The total increase over three years for promises announced so far is $254 million, a big boost by most standards but a lift that pales in comparison to the $50 billion already scheduled to be consumed in that period with a status quo budget.

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Future of health care is big issue missing from campaign