Alberta will not be a part of the Ottawa’s federal dental plan according to premier Danielle Smith.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) is aimed at helping Canadians access dental care but many dentist within the province are reluctant at signing on to this initiative.
The premiere has pushed back against the feds plan to provide affordable oral health care to millions of Canadian residents who would otherwise not be able to afford such care.
The plan infringes on provincial jurisdiction according to the Premiere, and in turn the province is asking Ottawa for it’s share of the federal dental funds through an agreement, which would expand coverage to low-income Albertans.
It was announced in December of 2023, that Ottawa would spend $13 billion over the course of the next five years on the plan. Canadian residents who earn less than $90k annually on their tax return who do not have access to a dental plan would be eligible. The current program covers children under 12 and senior citizens over 65. This would change and expand the program to cover anyone under 18 as well as residents who already receive a disability tax credit certificate.
According to the numbers, 60 percent of dentists in the province have not signed up with concerns over misinformation. According to some dentists, patients are being mislead into believing this would be a free program, when there could be patient related costs.
Health Minister Mark Holland is accusing the Conservatives of trying to “sabotage” the government’s dental care program by calling up dental associations and “bullying” them.
