I maybe wrong but I think Greg B this first started in Briton picked up in California spread to the rest of the States than up to Canada. The buzz word used all around in the health field was D.I. or Deinstitualization. Yep, the governments cut the funding leaving the hospitals no choice but to cut beds. The hospital I was at had 1600 beds and when I left it was down to 300 and of those 250 were occupied.
Out you go buddy. Good luck on the streets.