OTTAWA — The Canadian Dental Hygienists Association says its members are urging all federal parties to keep funding the national dental-care program, arguing it's good for the economy and for public health.
The association said access to oral health care increases worker productivity and keeps people from taking sick days.
"We know that the cost of living continues to increase. Tariff threats from the Trump administration will have a devastating impact on our economy, placing more Canadians in increasingly precarious financial positions," Ondina Love, CEO of the association, told a press conference in Ottawa on Thursday.
"During such political turmoil, Canadians should not also have to worry about access to health care."
Love said a lack of proper preventive care also costs the health-care system money. She cited statistics that estimated the cost of emergency room treatment for dental pain in Ontario at $31 million in 2017.
The dental-care program was the product of the supply-and-confidence agreement signed by the NDP and the minority Liberal government in 2022.
The federal Conservatives have not said whether they would keep funding the program if they form the next government. Leader Pierre Poilievre has said he would cut wasteful and inflationary Liberal government spending.
The program was launched initially for seniors in December 2023 and has been expanded in phases.
Seniors, children and people with disabilities who have household incomes of less than $90,000 and don't have private insurance are now eligible, and the federal government said more than three million people have signed up.
About 1.5 million people have received care under the program so far, said Health Minister Mark Holland.
The program is supposed to be expanded this year to cover all uninsured adults with household incomes under $90,000 a year — another nine million people, according to a federal estimate.
The NDP has been urging the Liberals to complete the expansion before the next election campaign, which could start as early as next month.
Holland said he does not have an estimate of when the final phase of the program will begin.
He said that's partly because of the situation in Parliament — proceedings are paused until March 24 while the Liberals are in the midst of a leadership race — but also because the government wants to ensure the program is fully ready.
"You can imagine, if any of these phases weren't working successfully, then the Conservatives would use this as an excuse to kill the program," Holland said.
A spokesperson for Poilievre did not respond to a request for comment on the dental-care program on Thursday.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 26, 2025.
Sarah Ritchie, The Canadian Press
