The Canadian Parliament has approved a $21 billion spending bill, with $317 million of this being allocated to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP). This represents a positive boost for the CDCP. Many people continue to benefit from the plan, with this additional funding likely to improve the CDCP’s potential further.
The Canadian Parliament has agreed to allocate an additional $317 million to the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), in a positive boost to the oral health of Canadians [1].
The CDCP has the aim of improving oral health for Canadians and assisting those with a low income in affording dental care. This additional funding should help to further the potential of the CDCP.
The $317 million addition in funding for the CDCP comes as part of a wider $21 billion spending bill which has been approved by parliament.
What is the CDCP?
The CDCP launched in December 2023. Since then, over one million Canadians have accessed services offered by the plan [2]. Therefore, it has had a significant impact already.
Dental costs are high in Canada, with research showing that approximately 25% of Canadians avoided seeing a dentist in 2022 due to cost concerns [3].
Many Canadians have developed poor oral health, and have not been able to access the treatment they have badly needed. Therefore, financial support for those with a low or medium income is important.
The CDCP assists those with an annual family income of less than $90,000. Prior to the update in parliament, $13 billion had been put aside for the CDCP, though this has now changed [1].
Parliament approves extra funding
Parliament was voting on a $21 billion spending bill, which the ruling Liberal Party had requested last month. The aim is for the $21 billion to fund various programs [1].
For example, one such program was the CDCP. The Liberals wanted a further $317 million to be allocated to the CDCP as part of the spending [1].
MP’s representing the Liberals, New Democratic Party (NDP) and Bloc Quebecois were among those to vote in favour of the additional funding [1]. NDP leader Jagmeet Singh has been a vocal supporter of the CDCP.
The Conservative Party opposed the entire spending bill – including the injection of further funding into the CDCP [1]. But there were enough votes in favour to pass the bill.
Overall, this additional $317 million will add to the $13 billion that has already been committed to the CDCP for the next five years [1]. Therefore, this should help with extending the reach of the plan further.
Anita Anand – President of the Treasury Board – has said that she was pleased that “the majority of members in the House of Commons recognize that the supports” are the “supports that Canadians need” [1].
What will happen next with the CDCP?
As discussed earlier, the CDCP has been rolled out on a gradual basis. This means that not everyone is currently available to apply for the services under the CDCP.
For example, the elderly, children, and those with disabilities are among those who are eligible to apply for the plan (provided they meet eligibility requirements).
However, in 2025, the aim is for the CDCP to open up to everyone. It isn’t yet known when in 2025 this will be, but the federal government remains confident of this happening at some point next year [4].
Health Minister Mark Holland has admitted that “I know people are anxious” regarding when they will become eligible for the CDCP [4].
Furthermore, Holland has said the government are working in order to make the plan available “as soon as possible in the new year” to apply for [4].
It is believed that around 9 million Canadians meet eligibility requirements. However, only 3 million of this group are currently eligible. Therefore, there is still a sizeable number of people – mainly those aged 18-64 – who are still waiting to be able to apply [4].
It isn’t known yet whether the additional $317 million will be spent on extending some of the services offered through the CDCP. Currently, services offered include cleanings, fillings and dentures.
Seeing the extra funding being agreed is positive, and underlines the government’s commitment to improving the oral health of Canadians. Hopefully, this funding will further improve the CDCP, and lead to more people benefiting from the plan.
Thinking points…
1) While the federal government are hoping for the CDCP to open to those aged 18-64 during 2025, it isn’t likely to be in the early part of the year. Unfortunately, some people are ignoring pressing dental issues in an effort to wait to become eligible for the CDCP. However, it is important to not wait for the plan, as problems will only become more severe. Therefore, make sure you carry on attending regular check-ups, as these allow a dentist to review your oral health. We recommend booking an appointment now!
2) Earlier we mentioned about how the price of dental care in Canada means that many people are unable to afford care. However, here at our Calgary-based dental clinic Savanna Dental, our prices are set in line with the Alberta Dental Fee Guide, which ensures transparent and competitive prices. We would love you to visit our Calgary dental clinic! You can see more about us on our website: https://savannadentalclinic.ca/!
What we offer at Savanna Dental
Savanna Dental is a dental clinic based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. We provide our patients with a range of treatment options and advice, with the aim of improving oral health and boosting overall wellbeing!
We advise our patients to attend our Calgary-based dental clinic twice a year for a dental check-up. If any problems are detected, we have many treatments available. For instance, these include cavity fillings and root canals. To try and prevent problems, it is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss regularly.
Here at Savanna Dental, we also have some cosmetic treatments available! These include dental implants, tooth whitening and Invisalign™! Our patients find that these treatments have a positive impact on their appearance, confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the fees of our services at our Calgary dental clinic Savanna Dental are set 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] Oral Health. (2024). Additional $317M approved for federal dental plan after Parliament held an 11th-hour vote on $21B spending bill. Available: https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/oral-health/additional-317m-in-the-works-for-federal-dental-plan-as-parliament-to-hold-an-11th-hour-vote-on-21b-spending-bill-1003983166/. Last accessed: 13th December 2024.
[2] Oral Health. (2024). Federal dental plan expands services Nov. 1 after ‘milestone’ of helping more than one million Canadians. Available: https://www.oralhealthgroup.com/oral-health/federal-dental-plan-expands-services-nov-1-after-milestone-of-helping-more-than-one-million-canadians-1003982203/. Last accessed: 13th December 2024.
[3] Health Canada. (2024). Government of Canada announces the services covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan. Available: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/news/2024/02/government-of-canada-announces-the-services-covered-under-the-canadian-dental-care-plan.html. Last accessed: 13th December 2024.
[4] Von Stackelberg, M. (2024). Health minister won’t say when millions more Canadians can apply for dental coverage. Available: https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/dental-care-play-expansion-18-to-64-2025-1.7408120. Last accessed: 13th December 2024.
