Election season is officially open, and once again the big gun everyone's pulling out to bag their prey is healthcare reform. What are the real differences between the three main parties' promises? Who can we trust to steer us clear of the pitfalls of the past? Here's a run-down of the major players.

Paul Martin's Liberals have famously earmarked a staggering $9 billion for healthcare investments, including addressing doctor shortages and improving enforcement of the Canada Health Act. Mysteriously, Mr Martin says none of this will require any tax hikes, but would be funded out of projected future surpluses.

Over in the right corner, Stephen Harper's newly-minted Tories are running on a platform of increased support for a stably funded, universal, public healthcare system. But they don't want us to get all caught up in the details of who's going to provide it. "It does not matter who delivers healthcare; it matters who can receive it," they proclaim.

At the left end of the spectrum, Jack Layton's NDPs are promising to channel $29 billion into healthcare, bringing the federal contribution up to the 25% recommended by the Romanow Commission. They'd also ban both trans-fats and privatization of healthcare. They don't deny that the money to pay for all this can only come from higher taxes.

At least the questions are real this time: do we want private companies involved in healthcare and will we tolerate higher taxes to assure access to care?

� Susan Usher, Health Policy Editor