The new Canadian National Dental Benefit continues to get closer. The House of Commons has passed the dental benefit bill, having gained enough backing for it to pass its third reading. While there are still some steps to go, this decision has led to excitement for many, with the bill likely to help improve the oral health of many Canadians over the next few years.
The proposed Canadian National Dental Benefit continues to get closer, with the bill clearing another hurdle recently.
Members of Parliament in The House of Commons passed the dental benefit bill, with the bill gaining the support of 172 of the 310 MP’s that voted.
While there are still some steps remaining, the dental benefit is closer to coming to fruition. Soon, qualifying families will be able to benefit from financial assistance towards dental care for their children.
Background
The dental plan is a key part of the supply and confidence agreement between the Liberals and the New Democratic Party (NDP). For the NDP, implementing the dental plan has been one of their key objectives as a political party.
The original expectation was for the dental plan to be ready by the end of 2022. However, with this not happening, the Liberals reached a compromise by initially offering a benefit program [1].
The benefit will provide assistance for dental fees for families with a household income of below $90,000 [2]. At first, those aged under 12 will benefit. Families can receive up to $650 per year towards dental care for their child [2].
While the plans are still being finalised, currently, the idea is that qualifying families will need to provide the Canada Revenue Agency with the name and address of their licensed dental practitioner, along with the month of their planned appointment [3].
Passing the third reading in the House of Commons
In the latest key moment of the process towards confirming the benefit, the bill was able to pass its third reading in the House of Commons. However, there was some opposition from the Conservatives and the Bloc.
The bill had 172 supporters – mainly from the Liberals and the NDP. 138 MP’s dissented – from the Conservatives and the Bloc Quebecois party [1].
As the number of dissenters suggests, there have been some concerns raised. For example, it has been questioned whether or not now is the right time for such an investment to be made, given the rising inflation seen in recent times [4].
Andrew Scheer – Conservative House Leader – was among those unimpressed [1]. He said that by handing out cash, that the government would be contributing to inflation, and actually make the cost of living crisis worse [1].
Then, there was also the concern raised by Parliamentary Budget Officer Yves Giroux, who argued that the dental benefit is vulnerable to fraud [4]. He has told the government that robust verification methods need to be in place to protect against fraud [4].
But for the Liberals and the NDP, the positives outweighed the negatives. They were happy to support the bill, believing that it is a step in the right direction.
Jagmeet Singh, leader of the NDP – was understandably delighted. He said that “the Conservatives fought us at every chance — but we didn’t stop pushing and we’re not done fighting” [5].
Similarly, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the “legislation is off to the Senate, and Canadians are one step closer to getting this support” [5].
What next?
The benefit is getting closer. Its next step is to make its way through the Senate. Finally, it will then need to receive royal assent. Once this is done, families will be able to apply [1].
Once the benefit has been confirmed, the government will get to work on the next phase of the plan. The aim is for a full rollout of the national dental plan to be in place by 2025 [2].
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos has spoken about this. He says that “there will be a second program that will be better suited to the dental-health care that other Canadians, including the younger children, will need over time, that includes seniors, people with disabilities, people with relatively low- or middle-income ranges” [6]. We are gradually getting ever closer to the dental plan!
Thinking points…
1) This dental benefit will initially be for those aged 12 and under. It is likely to be a few years before the wider population can benefit. Therefore, it is important for us all to keep looking after our oral health. An important part of this is getting regular dental checks-ups, as this can help to ensure that your oral health is strong, and for any problems to be noticed and acted upon. We recommend booking an appointment now!
2) One of the most appealing aspects of the dental benefit is the fact that existing dental fees can be very expensive. Many people struggle to afford dental fees. However, here at Savanna Dental, our fees are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide, which ensures transparency and no nasty surprise costs. To find out more, or to have a conversation with us about your oral health or needs, we would love for you to get in touch with us!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a Calgary dental clinic that provide its patients with a range of treatment options and advice aimed at improving oral health.
It is crucial to brush your teeth at least twice a day and to floss regularly. Moreover, eating healthily and trying to avoid sugary foods and drink is important.
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a regular dental check-up. When problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Many people find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, all of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide.
We would love you to visit our Savanna Dental clinic in Calgary! You can find out more about us by visiting our website https://savannadentalclinic.ca.
References
[1] Osman, L. (2022). Federal dental care benefit gets go-ahead from House of Commons. Available: https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/politics/federal-dental-care-benefit-gets-go-ahead-from-house-of-commons-1.6128693. Last accessed: 4th November 2022.
[2 Tunney, C. (2022). Liberals agree to launch dental care program in exchange for NDP support. Available: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeu-jagmeet-singh-deal-government-1.6393021. Last accessed: 4th November 2022.
[3] Osman, L. (2022). Dental-care legislation among first bills on docket as Parliament resumes. Available: https://edmontonsun.com/news/national/dental-care-legislation-among-first-bills-on-docket-as-parliament-resumes/wcm/d8f9f155-aa51-440c-8b23-52264d179c8f/amp/. Last accessed: 4th November 2022.
[4] Al Mallees, N. (2022). New dental benefit vulnerable to fraud without verification measures: PBO. Available: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/new-dental-benefit-vulnerable-to-fraud-without-verification-measures-pbo-1.6124065. Last accessed: 4th November 2022.
[5] Docto, I. (2022). Canadians are one step closer to getting a universal dental care program. Available: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/dental-care-program-passes-parliament. Last accessed: 4th November 2022.
[6] Pangilinan, M. (2022). Officials share plans for federal dental care benefit. Available: https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/ca/news/breaking-news/officials-share-plans-for-federal-dental-care-benefit-425767.aspx. Last accessed: 4th November 2022.
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