Reduced surgical waiting times are the promised consequence. It appears doubtful. For 1997, the median waits range from 1 week for urgent cardiovascular surgery in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Quebec, to 52 weeks for elective cardiovascular surgery in Newfoundland.
Comparable numbers exist for the earlier years of the survey.
Analysis of the data finds no connection. These two examples are representative of the overall absence of any wait-reducing effect of spending. In other words, increases in health spending don't reduce waiting times. Two explanations exist for this surprising result. Both stem from defects in the current system.