health minister Jean-Yves Duclos say he is confident the federal government will be able to establish his proposed dental care program by the end of the year, though his department has yet to settle on a model or begin formal talks with the provinces.
As part of a trust and supply deal with the NDP to avoid elections until 2025, the Liberals pledged to launch a federal dental care program for low- and middle-income children before the end of the year and their qualifications. aimed to expand. next several years.
Duclos admits timeline is tight, but says health Canada Is doing everything possible to stay on track and he is confident that the government will set the deadline.
Dental care traditionally falls within the purview of the provinces and has urged Ottawa, along with several stakeholder groups, to transfer funds to existing health systems to manage the program.
Several provinces say they have not yet held any formal talks with the federal government, although the deadline for the Liberal-NDP agreement is now less than six months away.
The Denturist Association of Canada says the federal government should develop a stand-alone insurance program, but warns liberals to be realistic about the time it will take to fix it.
© 2022 Canadian Press