June 17th, 2021 - 7:41pm

Consumer Protection, Other News, Press Releases

Liberals reject NDP proposal to deliver affordable dental care to millions of Canadians   

 WINDSOR– Earlier today, the Liberal government voted against an NDP motion that would provide dental coverage to millions of Canadians who struggle with the cost of dental care. The NDP proposal would have allowed 6.7 million people in Canada whose household income is less than $90,000 a year to access the dental services they desperately need.

“Regular trips to the dentist are unaffordable to many Canadian families, the pandemic has only made these further out of reach,” said NDP MP Brian Masse (Windsor West). “Instead of joining with New Democrats to bring this vital access to Canadians, the Liberals have chosen to deny them.”

Liberal and Conservative Members of Parliament refused to support the New Democrats’ attempt to deliver dental coverage even though one in five Canadians skip visits to the dentist because they can’t afford it.

Left untreated, poor dental hygiene is linked to many serious health conditions like cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections and diabetic complications. Across Canada people are going to emergency rooms for dental pain, when what they really need is to see a dentist. The estimated cost of these visits across Canada is more than $150 million per year.

 

“The government’s choice not to help people who can’t afford dental services has serious consequences for Canadians’ health and it also costs the health care system to treat the infections and complications that occur,” added Masse.  “It is Canadians who are paying the price for the government’s lack of leadership.”