Now that the long-awaited Romanow report has been tabled, the real work begins for Prime Minister Jean Chrétien.

Shortly after the report went public Thursday morning, the health community began calling on Mr. Chrétien and Canada's top politicians to make recommendations on paper into concrete changes in Canada's health-care system.

"We are calling on the Prime Minister and provincial leaders to throw their full financial and political support behind this fantastic national program that is the envy of the world," Leah Casselman, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, said Thursday.

The College of Family Physicians of Canada called for all levels of government to work towards quickly implementing Mr. Romanow's recommendations.

"The time for study is done," said Dr. Calvin Gutkin, executive director and CEO of the CFPC. "We are pleased that Romanow's report is completed and urge all governments to now get down to making hard decisions about the future of health care in this country."

A common demand was that concrete proposals be in place for next January's First Ministers' Conference and February's federal budget.

"The First Ministers must move quickly to implement what Canadians have so passionately asked Commissioner Romanow to report," the Canadian Health Coalition said in an official statement. "In the coming days and weeks, the Canadian Health Coalition will be working with Canadians everywhere to ensure that the federal, provincial and territorial governments implement the Romanow plan at the First Ministers Conference.

"Failure to act quickly to save public health care will soon escalate into a crisis of democracy."

Health Minister Anne McLellan told reporters in Ottawa on Thursday that she will begin to work on the plan when she meets with provincial colleagues next Friday in Mississauga, Ont.

"I see this as a partnership in which both levels of government have to do their parts," Ms. McLellan said. "That's what Canadians expect. ... Commissioner Romanow made it plain that this system is going to require a fairly substantial infusion of cash and we're committed to doing our part."

Another key meeting will happen in mid-December when Finance Minister John Manley meets with provincial and territorial finance ministers.

During Question Period on Thursday, Progressive Conservative leader Joe Clark asked when the government might be ready to table new legislation on health care reform in the House of Commons.

"The discussions around the development of a plan for the renewal of our health-care system will begin at the federal/provincial/territorial forum next Friday," Ms. McLellan said. "Finance minister meet in mid-December and obviously this will be on their agenda."

"All of this leading to a First Ministers meeting at which one hopes, and we certainly expect, that the Prime Minister and his colleagues will sign off on a plan and will be able to agree on dollar amounts."

Mr. Chrétien released a statement on the report Thursday morning, saying all levels of government are prepared to work together to change the health system.

"The Romanow report and other recent studies will provide a strong foundation for a long-term plan of action based on responsible spending for change," Mr. Chrétien said. "We are prepared to work closely with our partners, the provinces and territories. Every premier has assured me of their full co-operation in achieving a plan for health-care reform. And they can be assured in return of our full co-operation.

"We must work quickly and co-operatively on a plan to ensure the sustainability of our national health-care system, for all Canadians, now and in the future."

Perhaps the man behind the report said it best himself.

"I think it is a pretty good report," Mr. Romanow said Thursday. "Now it's up to the governments and the people of Canada to decide what to do."