EDMONTON — As Albertans’ anxiety grows over the rising cost of living — including how new tariffs could impact their employment, health benefits, and pocketbooks — the federal government continues to drag their heels on delivering much-needed relief when it comes to expanding dental care and bringing down drug costs.

EDMONTON — December 3 is an important day to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It’s a day to learn but also a day to act. 

Because the truth is, here in Alberta, there is much work to do to ensure folks living with disabilities can live life with the full dignity and respect they deserve. The supports, health care services, and legislative frameworks needed for full participation in our province are still not in place. Below are some ways you can act in solidarity with Albertans with disabilities on this important day.

This Op-Ed by Friends of Medicare's executive director, Chris Gallaway, was originally published in the Edmonton Journal on July 18, 2024.

I was disappointed to read Health Minister Adriana LaGrange’s recent op-ed article, “Why Alberta is opting out of the federal dental care plan,” in which she continues to spread misinformation on dental care in Alberta, while attempting to justify the premier’s recent announcement that their government intends to try to take the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) away from Albertans.

EDMONTON — As Canada’s premiers meet in Halifax this week for the annual Council of Federation, health care is once again one of the key agenda items. New Environics Research polling released by the Canadian Health Coalition today shows that people across Canada overwhelmingly support initiatives to support and expand public health care. 

Yesterday, Premier Danielle Smith informed the federal government that she wants to opt Alberta out of the new national dental care program.

EDMONTON — To date, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has already helped more than 100,000 Albertans access dental care who were previously unable to do so. This is on top of the tens of thousands of Alberta children who were helped by the interim children’s Canada Dental Benefit.

EDMONTON — This morning, the federal government announced a major expansion of dental care coverage for Canadians to be rolled out over the coming months. Dental care is one of the priorities that was laid out in the Confidence and Supply Agreement between the NDP and the governing Liberals, which included a timeline that called for seniors, folks living with disabilities and those under 18 to be covered under a dental insurance program to be announced by the end of this year.

More work still needed on universal pharmacare, long-term care standards, paid sick leave, the drug poisoning crisis, and protecting public health care in Alberta

This afternoon the federal government tabled their budget for 2022-2023. It included items laid out in the Confidence and Supply Agreement with the NDP, most notably: adding dental care coverage for children 12 and under this year.

“Dental care is health care. Yet far too many Albertans have long been forced to forego necessary dental procedures due to cost-related barriers to access, and entrenched economic inequality,” said Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare. “The dental care commitment in today’s federal budget is good news for Alberta children, and we’re hopeful this will be the first step towards truly universal public dental care for all.”

Dental Fee Guide Welcomed But More Action Needed

Friends of Medicare are welcoming today's announcement of a reduced fee guide for dental services in Alberta, and urging the Ministry of Health to add dental coverage to Alberta's health care insurance plan. The guide recommends reductions of 8.5% in 60 common procedures.

New Dental Fee Guide Fails to Tackle Affordability Issues

After waiting for 20 years for a public Dental Fee Guide, Albertans will only see a 3% reduction of the fees currently being charged by dentists in this province. "For years Albertans have been paying almost double of what the rest of Canadians pay for dental services. A mere 3% reduction being proposed will do nothing to address the issue of affordability which currently prevents Albertans from accessing dental care," says Sandra Azocar, Executive Director with Friends of Medicare.