The federal government and an opposition party pushed a budgeted dental care program expansion throughout Windsor-Essex Tuesday.
Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk was at the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit Tuesday with representatives from the local United Way and Senator Dr. Sharon Burey, a Windsor pediatrician. Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh visited Tuesday with Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, then toured the dental program at St. Clair College's main Windsor campus.
The dental plan, tabled in the 2023 federal budget, will expand eligibility to uninsured Canadians under 18, senior citizens, and people with disabilities with an annual family income of less than $90,000 a year.
Kusmierczyk told reports after a meeting with health officials that he wanted to see what the local situation looked like, so he could meet with the federal minister of health and provincial health representatives.
"One of the challenges we're seeing in this community is access," said Kusmierczyk. "You can create an excellent dental insurance program, but there are still going to be barriers out there, whether it's transportation or whether it's language issues."
The plan began in October, focusing on children under 12. The program as laid out in the budget will be expanded later this year to seniors, anyone under 18, and those with disabilities. By 2025, any Canadian without dental insurance will be able to access care.
The dental plan was included in the Liberals' budget with the backing of the federal NDP, which had been pushing for oral care expansion.
Speaking to reporters after touring the dental program at St. Clair College, Singh said he has spoken to people in dire need of relief since they often must choose between getting needed dental work and eating.
"I met with a senior couple, both of them on a fixed income, and both of them need dental care that's going to cost, as they were quoted, over $1,100 each for a root canal which they cannot put off because of the pain that they are in," said Singh. "With that family, they're going to save $2,200, so this is is a real way to save money for people."
Singh added that expanded dental care had been one of the NDP's objectives for years.
The federal government said once all is said and done, nine million additional Canadians will have easier access to a dentist.
---with files from Maureen Revait
