Ottawa plans to expand eligibility for the federal dental care program on Thursday to include children under 18 and people benefiting from a disability tax credit.
The government estimates that an additional 1.2 million people will now be able to apply for the scheme.
Some speakers had criticized the government for basing the eligibility of people with disabilities on the tax credit, pointing out that this will leave out a large number of people who need help.
Federal ministers have highlighted that eligibility will be fully expanded to include everyone meeting the income criteria in January 2025, so those excluded now will not have to wait much longer to access federal dental cover .
The deployment of the program was negotiated with the New Democrats as part of a political pact aimed at preventing the holding of early elections.
To qualify, patients must be uninsured and have a household income of less than $90,000 per year.
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