A Fraser Institute study concludes that Canada is no closer to universal coverage than the United States is.  Among the findings:

• Canadian government data show an estimated 1.7 million Canadians (aged 12 and older) were unable to access a regular family physician in 2007.
• The actual number of "effectively" uninsured Americans is less than half of the figure usually reported and being uninsured is usually only a temporary condition.
• Based on these figures, the study estimates that the percentage of the population that was "effectively" uninsured for non-emergency, necessary medical services at any given time during 2007 was not significantly different between the two countries: 7.9 percent in the United States compared to 6 percent in Canada.