Toronto – Deputy Prime Minister, Chrystia Freeland, spoke about Canadian Dental Care Plan in Toronto.
Good morning.
I would like to start by acknowledging that we are gathered on the traditional territories of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat Peoples.
I am so very happy to be here with my wonderful colleague, Mark Holland, our Health Minister, and with the amazing team at Sparkleen Dental Hygiene.
I do want to start by sharing some good news about our economy: Inflation fell to 2.7 per cent in April, down from 2.9 per cent in March. For four months in a row, inflation in Canada has been within the Bank of Canada’s target range. It is now at a three-year low, and wages have now outpaced inflation for 15 months in a row.
This is great news for all Canadians. With our fiscally responsible economic plan, our government is doing everything we can to support the Bank of Canada and to help make it possible for the Bank to lower interest rates as soon as possible. I know for small businesses, that is really important.
Our budget is about ensuring fairness for every generation of Canadians. And a strong health care system is essential to ensuring fairness—because no matter your age, or your income, every Canadian deserves to get the high quality health care they need. That’s really part of Canada, part of being Canadian.
That’s why, last year, we announced a historic $200 billion, 10-year health care plan to reduce backlogs, improve primary care, and cut wait times.
It’s why we introduced legislation to deliver the first phase of national universal pharmacare in Canada, which will provide universal coverage for many diabetes medications and make contraceptives free.
And it’s why, last year, we launched our new Canadian Dental Care Plan. Because up until now in Canada, you’ve been able to tell how much money someone makes, or how much money their parents earn, by their smile. That’s not right. That’s not fair.
I’m so delighted that our country, our government is now changing that. I am very happy to announce that, as of this week, 2 million Canadian seniors have been approved to receive coverage under our new Canadian Dental Care Plan. That’s 2 million seniors across Canada who are now able to get the dental care they need. If you haven’t signed up, one of the reasons that we’re here talking about this is to let you know to go online, or call on the phone and see if you qualify.
I am also so glad to announce that there are now close to 10,000 oral healthcare providers—including Sparkleen Dental Hygiene right here on St. Clair in Toronto—offering services to patients covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan. This includes dentists and dental specialists, independent dental hygienists and denturists.
I really want to thank the amazing, warm, kind and thoughtful people here at Sparkleen Dental Hygiene and all the dental care providers who have signed up for supporting our Dental Care Plan. The work you do is really important. You’re keeping us healthy and I’m so grateful to the three dental care providers we have here with us but also to everyone who works on this across Canada.
And in June, coverage through our Canadian Dental Care Plan will be extended to children under 18 and to people with a valid Disability Tax Credit. Kids under 12 are already covered by the interim Canada Dental Benefit, which launched in December 2022 and has helped more than 440,000 children get the dental care they need. Altogether, this means that next year, nine million uninsured Canadians—people who have been paying out of their own pockets to get their teeth taken care of—will have dental coverage.
Our Canadian Dental Care Plan is going to make—and is already making—a real, concrete difference in the lives of millions of Canadians. Millions of Canadians who won’t have to wait until they’re in real pain and only then come to see their dentist. Instead, people can come and the regular care they need.
For many Canadians, our Dental Care Plan means they will no longer have to choose between taking care of their teeth and paying their bills. That is what fairness is about. Our government is acting now—and acting with purpose. Because Canadians are counting on us.