Canada’s Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos speaks during Question Period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa March 3.BLAIR GABLE/Reuters
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos is confident the federal government will be able to set up its proposed dental-care program by the end of the year, he said Tuesday, though his department has not yet settled on a model or begun formal talks with the provinces.
As part of a confidence and supply deal with the NDP to avoid an election until 2025, the Liberals pledged to launch a federal dental-care program for low- and middle-income kids before the end of the year and aim to expand its eligibility over the next several years.
The government set aside $5.3-billion over five years for the program, and says it will start by giving coverage to children under 12 years of age with a household income under $90,000 who aren’t otherwise…