Hon. Hassan Yussuff moved third reading of Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing.

He said: Honourable senators, I rise today on third reading of Bill C-31, An Act respecting cost of living relief measures related to dental care and rental housing. I want to thank the members of the National Finance Committee for their work on the study of this bill, and the witnesses who appeared to give testimony on it.

Honourable senators, the bill before us is simply about helping people who need our help — from helping low-income Canadians deal with the increase in rent, to ensuring low-income and middle-income families have the financial means to provide basic oral health care for their children. I want to be clear that both the rental and dental benefits are meant to be short-term measures — not long-term solutions. The rental benefit is a short-term measure to help deal with the increase in rent that many low-income Canadians have experienced in the past year, and the dental benefit is an interim measure to bridge the gap to a permanent national dental solution for children. These measures are needed now. The sooner we pass this bill, the sooner Canadians who need help and assistance will take care of their children’s teeth and health and, of course, put a roof over their head to do so.

Today, I want to talk about what these two benefits are — which is just as important as what they’re not — and how they can make a difference in the lives of low-income Canadians and working families. Let me start with the rental benefit, and what it is not meant to solve. It is not a benefit intended to address the long-term affordable housing problem that the country faces. What it’s meant to do is provide short-term relief to an acute problem of rental increase resulting, in part, from a record 40‑year inflation rate.

According to Rentals.ca’s November report, the average rent in Canada has increased about $100 per month from the pre‑pandemic level in the fall of 2019. The one-time tax benefit of $500 is intended to assist low-income renters with the increase in rent they have experienced. Most of all, Canadian renters have had to dig further into their pockets to pay their rent. However, the rent increase experienced by low-income renters have hurt them disproportionately. The rental benefit is estimated to help 1.8 million low-income renters across the country, and deal with the increase in rent they have experienced. This includes an estimated 17,000 low-income renters in Newfoundland and Labrador; 570,000 in Quebec; 60,000 in Manitoba; and over 700,000 in my home province of Ontario. These are not just statistics. These are individuals who are struggling to deal with rental challenges and to pay their rent on a monthly basis.

While the rental benefit is a targeted, short-term measure, the government, through the National Housing Strategy, has many other long-term initiatives in order to address the challenges associated with ensuring housing is a right — not a privilege — in this country. One such program is the Canada Housing Benefit which the rental benefit is a top-up for. The Canada Housing Benefit is a $4 billion long-term program that provides an average of $2,500 per year in direct support to families and individuals with housing needs. Both of these programs will make a significant difference in the lives of Canadians who are struggling with paying their rent on a monthly basis in this country.

Now I’d like to focus on the dental benefits that will help an estimated 500,000 children under the age of 12 in low-income and middle-income families. This benefit is not meant to cover all the dental care needs of our children, nor is it meant to replace the current provincial, territorial or private plans. It’s also not meant to be a permanent long-term solution for a national children’s dental program. What this dental benefit is meant to be is an interim program to bridge the gap until a permanent national program is put in place. In the interim, the government intends to take the necessary steps to build a comprehensive, long-term program that includes engaging with key stakeholders — including the provinces, the territories, Indigenous organizations, dental associations and industry — to help inform their approach in implementing a long-term Canadian dental care program.

The intent of the dental benefit is to ensure children under the age of 12 in low-income families immediately have access to basic dental care that is not provided through provincial, territorial or private dental plans across this country. The benefit also intends for parents — who do not have the ability to pay out of pocket for their children’s dental care — to apply up front for this through the Canada Revenue Agency, or CRA. I know there are some senators who believe that the interim benefit could have been better. Some are considering amendments to try and make it so. I first want to remind everyone that this is an interim measure, and I expect the final long-term program that is developed through the consultation I mentioned earlier will not only make a difference in the debate here today, but also a better program in the end. It’s through the consultation process that I would encourage both senators and stakeholders who have ideas on improving the program to make their opinions known — not by holding up the benefit that can help children now.

Second, the government intends this benefit to be ready and implemented in two weeks: on December 1. They have made it clear that to do so, this bill needs to receive Royal Assent by tomorrow. Any delay now risks parents having to wait longer to access the dental care benefit for their children.

I want to use a very personal example, colleagues, to explain how this benefit can help young children. A little over a year ago, my nephew and his wife both died very tragically. They left behind four orphaned boys, all under the age of 12. As our family struggled to take care of them, I know the challenges in raising these four boys to have a decent life will not be easy. Their grandparents, who are old, now have to take on this responsibility. I know this benefit will touch their lives. It will equally touch the lives of many children across this country. The fact of the matter is that in my family, people do their best to help these four boys become responsible adults as we struggle to deal with all of the needs they will encounter in their young lives. It is not easy. It is not easy for the many families who struggle with these challenges to provide basic needs for their children.

As a senator, I came from modest means, so I understand what struggle is all about. For all of us in this chamber, I’m sure each one of us have family members, friends and colleagues who are going to be touched by this benefit.

In conclusion, I hope you have a better understanding of what these two benefits intend to achieve and what they do not intend to achieve. The housing benefit is intended to assist low-income renters with the rental increase they have experienced because of the acute problem of high inflation and not with the systemic problem of the lack of affordable housing in this country. Likewise, the dental benefit is an interim program, not a permanent program, to cover the basic dental needs of children under the age of 12 not otherwise covered under existing plans, while a long-term national solution is developed through consultation.

Colleagues, the short-term and interim measures in the bill can make a real difference right now for low- and middle-income Canadians with the financial pressures of rent increases and ensuring children have access to basic dental care.

Honourable senators, we are approaching the holiday season, when the times are always a little tougher for those in our society who struggle with affordability issues. It is in these times when people worry about their finances and their kids’ well-being. I therefore urge you, colleagues, to keep this in mind and pass this bill quickly so we can assist Canadians who need our help.

I will be available for any questions. Thank you very much.

Hon. Hassan Yussuff: Honourable senators, I would first like to thank Senator Pate for delivering Senator McCallum’s concerns with regard to this bill. I want to thank Senator McCallum for her efforts in attending the National Finance Committee to raise some of these same issues directly with the minister — and others — when he was there with regard to the application of the benefit and how we might deal with some of these concerns.

Let me start by dealing with the issue of fraud. As is stated in the legislation, applicants’ income eligibility, presence of children and their age will be verified, of course, at the time an application is made — and through the CRA’s existing information system — before payment is made.

When applying, an eligible parent will be asked to provide the following information to confirm eligibility: the contact information of a dental professional who did or will provide a dental service; the contact information of their employer, if they have one, for the purpose of verifying access to employer dental care; and any other information requested to verify their eligibility.

Applicants will be made aware that they will need to be able to demonstrate that they meet the required eligibility conditions. This includes demonstrating that they had out-of-pocket costs that they used the benefit to pay for, as intended, for example, by showing receipts.

In addition, after the fact of verification and audits, a process will be used according to CRA’s standard practices and using the powers set out in the bill.

The CRA continues to enhance the security of its digital services to protect Canadians from fraudulent activities. These include security features such as multifactor authentication and making email addresses mandatory for those who use CRA’s My Account.

In cases of deliberate and serious misuse, like for other government programs run by the CRA, CRA will have a range of tools at its disposal as set out in the draft legislation to maintain the integrity of the program. The dental benefit act defines violations and criminal offences in relation to the benefits provided under the act, such as using false identity information, as well as punishments, including fines and possible imprisonment.

There is no question — I think the point that Senator McCallum is raising that families struggling with many issues that in terms of trying to manage a family and providing for their children, they might misuse the benefits. I know many working families are honest and well-intentioned in regard to what this money is provided for. I cannot say for certain that fraud may not occur, but should fraud occur, the legislation clearly provides remedy under CRA’s authority to go after those families. I’m hoping this will not be the case to a large extent.

Honourable colleagues, I believe on that point the legislation meets some of the points Senator McCallum was raising.

It is true that dentists would prefer to have upfront payment. I know this for a fact. When I go to my dentist, I have to pay upfront. Again, as the legislation stipulates, a family can apply to CRA before they receive treatment and get the money before they will get the treatment so they can pay the dentist before their children’s needs are provided through that dentist.

On the last point, in regard to dental therapists, this is an important issue raised by Senator McCallum, but I think it’s been raised by others. Dental therapists provide an important service in regard to prevention and care for children, as it is for adults. The reality is the bill is not clear on this issue. I think the minister heard Senator McCallum’s point loudly when she was before the committee. It is my hope as the government rolls out this legislation — should it get the support of senators here today and receive Royal Assent — they will clarify this point because I think that they provide an important service. I would simply ask senators to vote against this amendment because I believe it will delay the passage of the bill, but equally many of the points have been heard to a large extent. Most importantly, there are provisions within the bill to deal with most of them.

On the therapist issue, I hope the government will reflect and provide guidance as to how this can be accomplished in a way that will satisfy the needs of families seeking treatment and have an opportunity to access dental therapists where they are available to provide service to children. Thank you.