The NDP has tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling on the Liberal government to establish a federal dental care program for Canadian families earning less than $90,000 per year.
This would be the first step to a universal dental care program covered in Canada’s health care system. Good dental health can impact a person’s entire well-being – yet consecutive Conservative and Liberal governments have refused to move forward with a national dental care program.
“Healthcare should cover us from head-to-toe,” North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney said Tuesday. “I hear it all the time from people in my riding who haven’t been to a dentist in years because they simply can’t afford it. We want to ensure people won’t have to give it a second thought and make dental covered for everyone.”
Millions of Canadians don’t visit the dentist every year because they can’t afford to. According to a Parliamentary Budget Office report released in October 2020, nearly 6.5 million Canadians would benefit from the NDP’s proposal, a number that continues to grow as people lose their jobs and dental insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Poor dental health can cause pain and hurt a person’s dignity, and even their job prospects. It can also lead to expensive health issues down the road,” said Blaney. “This is an example of how we can save money in the long run, by investing in people today.”