We’re also committed to continued collaboration with government to make this a great program
TORONTO, ON — The Ontario Dental Association (ODA) welcomes the $13 billion in funding for the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) that was announced in the federal government’s Budget 2023. If implemented properly, this program will help bring accessible dental care to tens of thousands of uninsured Canadians while minimizing disruptions for Canadians who already have dental coverage.
We’re also pleased that the government is working towards implementing a federally administered dental care program, as opposed to this dental funding flowing through pre-existing provincial programs. This is something the ODA has strongly pushed for because Ontario has the worst dental care spending record in the entire country, investing only $4.99 per person on public dental services compared to the national average of $15.53.
ODA President Dr. Lisa Bentley says, “The Ontario government’s dental care programs have been grossly underfunded for more than a decade, despite our repeated warnings that these programs are in trouble,” says Dr. Lisa Bentley, ODA President. “We would be worried about the province administering a new dental program and dooming it from the start, so we’re glad the Canadian Dental Care Plan will be run by Health Canada.”
Since the CDCP was announced, the ODA shared has shared the dental profession’s unique experiences in Ontario and extensive knowledge with the federal government. With our partner dental associations from across Canada, we are developing a technical submission so that the government can develop a successful program that gets people the care they need and uses taxpayer money wisely.
“The timing is great – Oral Health Month begins tomorrow and there isn’t a better time for the federal government to make this investment and work with us to improve oral health for everyone,” says Dr. Bentley.
While we applaud this historic investment in dental care, the ODA strongly urges the government to take steps to ensure the employer and group dental benefits system is also preserved. We are glad that more Canadians will be able to access care, but it must not come at the expense of access that more than two-thirds of Canadians have come to rely on.