Dental Care Victory for Canadians

Phone: 250-746-2353

Alistair MacGregor is the MP for CowichanMalahat-Langford and the federal NDP’s Critic for Agriculture and Agri-food, Rural Economic Development and deputy Justice

Dental care and oral health care are part of health care.

Earlier this year, my NDP colleagues and I reached a Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) with the governing Liberals to bring some much-needed stability to the House of Commons in return for some much-needed assistance to Canadians who are struggling. The central piece of this agreement has been to force the Liberals to implement a generational change to our healthcare system: dental care.

Canadians are very proud of their health care system, but access to proper dental care has long been a missing link. Too many Canadians report that they don’t have regular check-ups on their teeth because of the cost. Missing regular check-ups can lead to poor oral health, which can lead to major health issues down the road if problems aren’t identified early. These major health issues often need emergency intervention and treatment, which can cost many more millions of precious healthcare dollars. Children with poor oral health are almost three times more likely to miss school due to dental pain than those with good oral health. Parents have been forced to borrow money and forgo their own dental health needs just so that they can get their children in to see a dentist.

There are almost seven million people in Canada who are currently not covered by a dental plan and cannot afford to pay the cost. This includes

Dental Care Victory for Canadians

more than half of Canadians who have low incomes, more than half of seniors who are age 60 years and older, and 30% of young adults. These are damning statistics for a country as wealthy as Canada is.

Why are dental services not covered by our public health care system? In 1964, the Royal Commission on Health Services formed the original framework for Canada’s public health care system. In its final report, the commission called for the inclusion of dental services as part of a health care plan, but it noted the shortage of dentists was so acute at the time that it would be impossible to implement a universal system. However, it did suggest at the time it was imperative to establish a public dental care system for children, expectant mothers, and public assistance recipients, which could be scaled up as resources expanded.

The CASA is starting to yield important developments. After having voted against the NDP’s push to establish a federal dental care plan only last year, the federal Liberals are responding to our pressure and have introduced Bill C-31. This bill provides the legislative authority for the establishment of an application-based interim dental benefit. The benefit provides interim direct financial support for parents for dental care services received by their children under 12 years of age in the period starting in October 2022 and ending in June 2024.

The interim benefit will be in place until the new program is developed. The program will expand to under 18-year-olds, seniors and persons living with a disability in 2023, with full implementation by 2025. The program is designed to help families with an income of less than $90,000 annually, with no co-pays for anyone under $70,000 annually in income.

I campaigned strongly on this issue during the last federal election because dental care will provide important support for many families who are struggling in our communities.

This is a victory for them. Alistair MacGregor is the Member of Parliament for Cowichan-Malahat-Langford.

VALLEY DENTAL CLINIC

Dr. Gordon Levin DMD Dentist NEW PATIENTS WELCOME

Please see our YouTube Video: “How We Made Our Dental Offi ce Completely Safe for Patients and Staff “ https://youtu.be/tMvTDHfTP10

Qualifi ed Dentist American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine # 101-321 Festubert St Duncan, British Columbia V9L 3T1 250-746-9697

reception@valleydentalclinic.ca

In November, Alistair will be holding two public town halls with staff and expert guests on hand to answer questions from constituents.

• Lake Cowichan - November 8, 6pm – 7:30pm Centennial Hall - 309 S Shore Rd, Lake Cowichan

• Duncan – November 9, 6:pm – 7:30pm Cowichan Community Centre (Somenos Room) 2687 James St, Duncan