With the federal election just months away, the future of dentistry and pharmaceuticals, two of the Liberal government’s landmark social programs, is uncertain.
Two-thirds of Canadians who will be eligible for the new national dental insurance program are not yet eligible. The federal government has also yet to sign a single agreement with provinces and territories that would allow Ottawa to pay for contraceptives and diabetes medications.
Federal Health Minister Mark Holland acknowledged last week: “Nothing is guaranteed. We are in a precarious situation.”
“I’m going to work relentlessly to make sure I finish,” he said. “I don’t think it takes a lot of time. I just need a little more time.”
But time is running out for the Netherlands to follow through on both plans, with the three main opposition parties vowing to overthrow the Liberal government in a confidence vote and hold federal elections as early as March.
With Congress out of session and the fate of the next federal government uncertain, the future of the nation’s dental and pharmaceutical care programs is up in the air.
The Canadian Dental Care Plan currently helps pay for dental care for three million seniors, children and Canadians who receive the Disability Tax Credit. The program was scheduled to expand earlier this year to include an additional 6 million eligible adults ages 19 to 64. That hasn’t happened yet, and Health Canada hasn’t released any details about when that will happen.
“I want to see this happen,” Holland said.
The Pharmacare Act was passed last fall, setting the stage for Ottawa to begin covering the cost of contraceptives and diabetes drugs and equipment. Mr Holland said negotiations with states and territories to reach agreements to make this happen were progressing “very well”.
But so far, only a memorandum of understanding has been reached with British Columbia. No contracts have been signed.
“I’m very excited and confident we can get it done,” Holland said. “Then I think it’s going to be a choice for Congress. … Can we have a little bit more time to get all the pharmacare deals done?”
NDP won’t give Liberals any more time
NDP health critic and House of Commons leader Peter Julian said his party is not going to give the Liberals any more time.
“All we need is the will to represent this Liberal government,” Julian said.
The New Democratic Party supported the Liberals for more than two years through a confidence and supply agreement in return for the Trudeau government introducing social programs, including a national public dental and pharmacy plan.
Julian said the bill and the billions of dollars in funding to complete both programs have all already been approved by lawmakers, even if Congress could be adjourned. This means there is nothing stopping the Netherlands from expanding its dental care and concluding agreements on pharmaceutical care, Julien said.
“Everything is in place for the Liberal government to get things done immediately and we are saying there is no excuse for delay on this,” he said.
Mr Julien said he feared the two programs would be cut if the Conservatives formed a government at the next election.
Conservatives are silent about their plans
The Conservative Party did not respond to multiple requests for comment from CBC News.
The Conservatives have publicly criticized the dental and pharmacy plans, but have never said whether they would keep them, change them or scrap them if they win the next election.
Dr. Carlos Quiñones, a dental public health expert at Western University in London, Ont., says social programs tend to withstand government changes.
He cited Canada’s universal healthcare and employment insurance as examples.
“When it comes to health and social services, historically, once these programs are in place, they tend to continue across governments,” Quiñones said.
“Once you give someone something, it’s very difficult to take it away. And I think that kind of political calculation will continue.”
“But the question is, what will they look like once the new government is in place?”
Nova Scotia dentists, who have long advocated for universal health coverage and public dental insurance, fear their dental care will not survive unless all 9 million eligible Canadians sign up before the election. He says there is.
“I absolutely think this program is at risk of being discontinued,” Dr. Brandon Doucet said.
Doucet said it would be “incredibly cruel” to take dental insurance away from people who desperately need it.
“I’ve seen people try to pull out their own teeth with pliers dozens of times, and I just try to dig out what’s left,” he said.
