44th Parl. 1st Sess.
April 19, 2023 02:00PM
- Apr/19/23 2:03:56 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, April marks Oral Health Month, and from April 4 to 10 we celebrated National Dental Hygienists Week. As we celebrate this month, it is important to recognize the vital role that dental hygienists play in promoting good oral health and preventing dental diseases. By prioritizing these efforts, they can continue to ensure that patients are educated on proper dental care techniques and provide professional teeth cleaning and preventive treatments.
This year's theme is “Oral Health for Total Health”. By prioritizing our oral health, we can take important steps toward improving our overall health. This month is an opportunity to recommit ourselves to good oral health habits, such as brushing, flossing and regular dental checkups. Our government will continue promoting oral health care as we expand access to the dental care program.
I want to take this time to send a shout-out to our dental hygienists for all the work they do. We owe them a lot for making sure that we have the best oral health possible. May they continue to help make our smiles shine bright.
183 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/19/23 2:39:56 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, while the Leader of the Opposition continues to focus on me, we will continue to focus on Canadians, including by moving forward on strengthening health care. We are in the process of signing historic deals with all the provinces to deliver more family doctors, to deliver better mental health care, to deliver better supports for our frontline workers and a reduction of backlogs, and to deliver better data collection right across the country, so we can make sure Canadians are getting the best possible health care from coast to coast to coast. On top of that, we are moving forward with a dental care plan that is going to deliver dental care for Canadians right across the country, and he voted against that.
125 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/19/23 2:46:30 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, that family includes a godfather to one of my brothers, and my father was godfather to one of those children. We have been family friends for decades, and we will continue to be family friends for decades more.
As always, we worked with the Ethics Commissioner to make sure that all the rules were followed. That is what Canadians know and understand.
Canadians are probably puzzled as to why the Conservative Party continues to stand against dental care, against for low-income Canadians and against child care, which is saving Canadians hundreds of dollars a month at a time of need.
103 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/19/23 4:32:28 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, when I mentioned the importance of setting the record straight, I was referring to the type of comments the member just made.
I would tell the member to refer to the press release from FADOQ. Yes, FADOQ acknowledges the one-time grocery rebate. Who could be against apple pie? Everyone is in favour of apple pie. FADOQ says that it is indeed a good measure.
However, FADOQ goes on to say that the Liberal government could have done more, that it could have increased the guaranteed income supplement, that it broke its promise to bring in a tax credit for experienced workers, and that it could have taken this opportunity to increase old age security by 10%. I listen to seniors who say that there were not enough measures in this budget.
As for dental care, that is Quebec's responsibility. The National Assembly of Quebec is calling for Quebec to get the money to run the dental program itself. That is what the National Assembly of Quebec is asking for. As far as the environment is concerned, how can we really talk about public health when the government keeps funding the oil companies that emit greenhouse gases? That is greenwashing, as the member said.
There is greenwashing, but the member is also playing fast and loose with information on seniors. A one-time cheque does not help seniors in the long term.
235 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/19/23 4:34:07 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her speech. I have a great deal of respect for her.
I know that she works hard to help people. I know her riding of Shefford well. For years, I drove through Shefford almost every day, certainly every week, to get from the Eastern Townships to Montreal. I know the needs of her riding well. I also know how well my colleague represents the people in her riding.
Thanks to the NDP's efforts, we are now seeing hundreds of children in the riding of Shefford, in Granby and elsewhere, who have already benefited from the dental program that the NDP forced the government to put in place. As we know, the next phase of this dental care program will benefit people with disabilities and seniors. Families and young people will be able to benefit from it.
I just want to ask a question of my colleague, for whom, once again, I have great respect.
Does she think it is a good thing that people in her riding who did not have access to dental care before now have access to the dental program?
194 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/19/23 4:35:37 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. I have been hearing from the people of Shefford, especially from community groups. They are wondering about the details of this much-touted dental care program. They are finding that there is a lack of information. I am also getting questions about how it will fit in with what is already in place in Quebec.
In short, I am seeing a lot of question marks and possible complications ahead. Let us keep things simple. We already have a dental care program in Quebec. The government needs to respond to the Quebec National Assembly's request and give Quebec the money it is due so it can continue to improve its projects and its health care system.
125 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/19/23 4:53:29 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, it is so important. Over the last two weeks, we were in our constituencies, knocking on doors and speaking to families that have had the opportunity to avail themselves of our dental program, which is right now for kids under age 12, but will be expanded to seniors and to kids up to age 18. It makes a tremendous difference for those families, along with many of the supports that we have put in place, which are allowing youth to have a vision for their careers and their futures.
91 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- Apr/19/23 5:31:21 p.m.
- Watch
Mr. Speaker, while I listened to the member's speech, I was thinking a lot about many of the benefits we put forward to help young people in this country, specifically children and youth, when it comes to the dental program, interest relief on student debt, the child benefit and child care in general. These are huge programs that help young people.
If the member was in charge, what would he do differently, specifically when we are talking about children and youth?
82 words
- Hear!
- Rabble!
- add
- star_border
- share
- menumenu
- notificationsnotifications
- home
- mailmail
- searchsearch
