Canadians can now apply for federal assistance with the cost of their children’s trips to the dentist under a program that isn’t just a template for a national dental care system but also part of the political template the government is using to stay in power.
OTTAWA—Canadians can now apply for federal assistance with the cost of their children’s trips to the dentist under a program that isn’t just a template for a national dental care system, but also part of the political template the government is using to stay in power.
Families who earn less than $90,000 and don’t have private insurance can receive the benefit, which provides up to $1,300 over two years to cover out-of-pocket costs of dental care for children under 12.Missing from the photo opportunities and news conferences was any credit for the NDP, which insisted on the implementation of a dental care regime as a condition of its deal to prop up the minority Liberal government.
“It’s almost like the symbolism that there *is* a dental benefit matters more than the substantive task of helping anyone to get it,” Jennifer Robson said.unpacked the substantive side of the benefit system in an essay published Thursday in the journal Policy OptionsThey drilled down into holes they see, including that the new benefit is distributed based on income tax filings, which not all families have.
The government estimates 500,000 children will benefit, and said a financial buffer has been built in should more apply. The interim program for children was part of a law that also provides a $500 top-up for those receiving the Canada Housing Benefit, while other legislation doubled the GST tax credit for six months for low-income earners.
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said later Thursday that some 3,000 applications had been filed in the program’s first few hours, which is seen as a good sign of its potential reach.
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