MEDIA RELEASE: NDP celebrates new dental care for kids, turns focus to teens and seniors

OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is celebrating the launch of dental care funding for children by immediately re-focusing on the next step: dental care for seniors, people living with disabilities and everyone under 18.

OTTAWA — NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is celebrating the launch of dental care funding for children by immediately re-focusing on the next step: dental care for seniors, people living with disabilities and everyone under 18.

"Starting now, kids under 12 will no longer have to live with cavities, toothaches, or the lifelong damage that comes from years without seeing a dentist," said Singh.

"I'm incredibly proud that the NDP used our power in parliament to deliver dental care for kids. But I’m celebrating by immediately focusing on the next step in the NDP’s plan — dental care coverage for seniors, people with disabilities and everyone under 18. We’re going to keep fighting to make sure it happens in 2023.”

The dental care funding — up to $650 per person per year in families earning less than $90,000 — was negotiated by Singh in exchange for not forcing a snap election. That agreement came after both the Trudeau Liberals and the Conservatives voted against dental care twice.

“No one should have to rack up credit card bills to see a dentist,” said Singh. “When I’m prime minister, we’ll finally start treating dental care like health care.”

Families can apply for dental care funding at canada.ca.

Latest posts

OTTAWA — Housing Minister Gregor Robertson tabled legislation on Thursday to establish the federal government’s new affordable housing agency, but acknowledged Build Canada Homes has no set targets on how many homes it will build.

In December, the Parliamentary Budget Officer released a report that estimated the agency’s efforts would result in 26,000 directly funded units over the next five years. The federal government has said the report does not take into account the units that will result from Build Canada Homes’ partnerships with private developers and its $51-billion infrastructure fund.

Still, the PBO estimates federal spending on housing programs is set to decline by 56 per cent, from $9.8 billion in 2025-26 to $4.3 billion in 2028-29, due to expiration of funding for existing programs and cuts set out in Budget 2025.

“Canada’s non-profit housing stock has dwindled to only about four and a half percent of its total housing stock, well below the G7 average,” said NDP housing critic Jenny Kwan, in an interview with the National Post. “Countries that are doing well in addressing the housing situation is sitting at about 20 per cent.”

Click image or link to read the news story - https://nationalpost.com/news/minister-says-new-housing-agency-has-no-targets-on-number-of-homes-it-will-build

 

Are you ready to take action?

Constituent Resources
Mobile Offices
Contact Jenny

Sign up for updates