North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney is advocating for federal dental care for Canadians.
According to a media release, on February 2, the NDP 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 toward a universal dental care program covered in Canada’s health-care system, according to the release. 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, according to Blaney
“Health care should cover us from head to toe,” stated Blaney. “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.”
Blaney stated that 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, according to the release.
“Poor dental health can cause pain and hurt a person’s dignity and even their job prospects,” stated Blaney. “It can also lead to expensive health issues down the road. This is an example of how we can save money in the long run by investing in people today.”
