‘Flawed’ federal dental care plan will have little effect in Nunavut: MP
Territory doesn’t have enough resources to benefit, says Lori Idlout
The Canadian Dental Care Plan would provide those who don’t have private dental plans with federal coverage. (File photo by David Venn)
Nunavut will not benefit from the new federal dental care plan as much as the rest of Canada will, says Nunavut NDP MP Lori Idlout.
The territory doesn’t have enough resources to take full advantage of initiatives like this, she said in a phone interview.
“There are definitely not enough dentists to see a more significant impact,” she said.
Nunavut Health Minister John Main agreed with Idlout’s assessment in an interview May 23.
“We don’t anticipate there is going to be a huge uptake here in Nunavut,” he said, because most of Nunavut is already covered through the federal non-insured health benefits program, which provides dental health benefits for eligible Inuit.
It remains unclear to the Government of Nunavut whether coverage already provided to Inuit as well as the new federal program can be stacked or if they are mutually exclusive, Main said.
That’s something the government is working to clarify.
“Even if it is a limited benefit to Nunavummiut, increased federal support in health care is a step in the right direction,” Main said.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan is a public oral health-care insurance program providing coverage through the federal government to people who don’t have private dental plans.
The plan was unveiled in December 2023 as part of the shared priorities announced by Liberals and NDP in their supply and confidence agreement that has seen the NDP support the minority Liberal government.
The new program took effect May 1. Coverage is being rolled out gradually, starting with seniors aged 70 and older.
Children under the age of 18 and adults with a valid disability tax credit certificate will be eligible to apply for coverage in June, followed by the rest of eligible Canadians in 2025.
In announcing the program in February, the federal government stated one-third of Canadians do not have private dental care coverage.
The plan comes with established fees it will pay for various dental services. It pays a percentage of the costs, based on factors such as family income and the cost of the services.
Dentists can choose whether to sign up for the program or not.
A survey of 4,000 dentists across Canada showed 61 per cent will not sign up, according to a news release issued May 1 by the Canadian Dental Association.
“We are worried about the public’s expectation about the program,” said Dr. Aaron Burry, the association’s CEO, in the release. “[It] does not provide free dental care, but many Canadians may be under the impression that it does.”
Dr. Steven Partyka, president of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Dental Association and operator of a private clinic in Iqaluit, said he will not sign up either.
“There are a lot of flaws with the plan right now,” he said in a phone interview. “It’s not a fully developed plan.”
He said he believes the plan was “rushed” and “politically motivated.”
Partyka said his clinic works six or seven days a week, from early in the morning until late at night, and the additional administrative chores that would come with the plan would make work even harder for staff.
“I am very concerned about the effect it could have on the dental administrative staff,” he said. “It’s not the easiest thing to ask someone who is already overworked to throw more on them.”
New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian, the NDP’s health-care critic, said in a phone interview that the health-care system needs more dentists and oral care professionals.
The federal dental plan “does provide a solid base for dentists and oral [care] providers,” he said.
Correct me if I’m wrong but wasn’t this the NDP’s deal with the libs?
If the federal dental program was flawed to begin with why did the NDP vote to support it? If there is no benefit to Nunavut why would your MP support it too?
Just voting with the Liberals to pretend to get things done eh.
It states very clearly on the NIHB dental benefit website how to access both benefit areas. NIHB is first payer and CDBP is 2nd. However, find a dentist who is enrolled with one or both programs remains the issue, not the programs themselves.
If NIHB clients wish to apply to the Canadian Dental Care Plan, they should claim through the NIHB program first
Indigenous Services Canada is working closely with Health Canada to ensure ongoing alignment of dental coverage between the two plans, and that NIHB clients can continue to receive all their federally funded dental care coverage through NIHB.
Inuit which comprise of 85% of the territory are already covered under the NIHB so of course this new program will have little impact in Nunavut
Inuit who qualify for the CDBP based on the parameters will have dual coverage, which is great!
It’s as if living in LaLaLa land with an NDP MP who votes locked-on with the Liberals on every issue. Then, after voting for a bill or whatever issue of vote, the mind-boggling strange talk flows loud in the news.
All about her finger wagging at the NDP/Liberals that the voted on issue is bad and won’t work. Similar to her forever talking about skyrocketing food prices. Though, like clockwork. Votes for carbon tax increaseS to guarantee high food prices and high prices on everything race sky-high. LaLaLa land.
Ah the people are finally seeing the hypocrisy of the NDP and Liberals
Who was it that did away with FoodMail and brought in Nutrition North in 2012 and in doing so, gave The NorthWest Company millions in profits in exchange for lowering prices for 6 months before restoring them right back to where they were? Hint: it wasn’t the Liberals or the NDP…
What to play silly games and talk history? What party introduced income taxes in the first place a hundred and six years ago? Hmm No NDP existed and it wasn’t the Conservatives.
Nunavut NDP vote… Up Date…
Voted June 3, 2024
On Opposition Motion
#793 Summer Tax Break…
Pay… No carbon tax, no federal tax, no GST.
Voted… Nay.
It would of been about a 0.35 cent saving per liter of gas.
Saving example: for one red 5 gallon jug of gas… a $8.05 saving. (23 liters x 0.35 = $8.05).
#793 Voted down 202 to 116
No summer time tax relief.