The Canadian Press reported that Health Minister Mark Holland is accusing the Conservatives of trying to sabotage the new federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).
Holland spoke about the issue at a news conference in Ottawa where he said he thinks Conservatives are contacting the dental associations directly, getting them angry and turning them against the program. He believes the Conservatives are trying to bring down the program so that the Liberal party will look bad, and their party will benefit.
The Conservatives deny these claims and say the only ones to blame for the issues dentists have with the program are the Liberals themselves.
“It is Canada’s dentists, the ones who deliver care to Canadians right across our country, who are calling out this NDP-Liberal government for delivering a broken dental program and breaking their promises to Canadians,” said spokesman Sebastian Skamski.
The Toronto Star has now reported that the dental associations are directly denying the claim that Conservatives are behind their hesitation for the CDCP.
“There has been zero pressure, really, from the Conservatives on us in any kind of fashion that would result in the low uptake of dentists registering for the program,” said Dr. Robert Wolanski, president of the British Columbia Dental Association.
