Sources close to the federal government’s proposed $5.3 billion dental plan say the Liberals are considering a temporary solution that would be to give money directly to patients to fulfill their promise to the NDP while they work on a more permanent answer.
The Liberals promised the New Democratic Party (NDP) a new dental program for low- and middle-income families in March as part of a confidence and supply agreement to avoid an election before 2025.
The government has until the end of the year to provide some form of coverage for children under 12 whose annual household income is less than $90,000, or the NDP has promised to pull out of the deal.
Sources familiar with the government’s plans, but who are not authorized to speak publicly, say the government is unlikely to meet its deadline and is planning an interim solution until the program is in place permanently.
While there are few details, sources say the temporary solution would be to directly give eligible families the money to fund their dental health services while the government works on a more permanent expanded program.
In a statement, Health Minister staff neither confirmed nor denied the temporary plan, but said they were on track to meet the dental care commitment as set out in the agreement with New Democrats, who did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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