SoVote

Hon. Mark Holland

Member of Parliament
Minister of Health
Liberal

Ajax
Ontario
Voting Attendance: 64%
Expenses Last Quarter: $134,982.00

Government Page

Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24

May/29/24 10:14:23 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I remember meeting a hygienist a couple of weeks ago, and she said that she keeps looking for all the paperwork and the administration that she was told was going to be so hard to do and that she keeps looking behind her computer or waiting for somebody to come in and tell her she is doing something wrong because it has been nothing but easy. In fact, she was saying to me that it is easier than the private insurance plans that she has been dealing with. That is a common refrain everywhere. We are hearing from providers that once they try it, they see just how easy it is. Part of the evidence is that once we get a few providers in a region, there is an explosion of providers as they talk to each other and they see just how easy this program is to work with. We almost have all denturists participating, which is fantastic, because that means that seniors are getting the dentures they need. We have a really phenomenal uptake in hygienists. Hygienists are going to play such an important role, and I would really encourage people to consider using a hygienist because often, particularly in rural or remote places or in seniors' homes, hygienists can go directly to a population in need and can be able to serve them, and then simply refer them, if there is a need for a dentist. In a lot of instances, one does not even need to see a dentist. One just needs to get one's teeth cleaned. We are going to make sure that we are there for everybody as we continue to expand this plan. I am looking forward, next month, to seeing it open up to those under 18 and to persons with disabilities.

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Context: House Hansard - 320 - May/29/24

Hon. Mark Holland (Minister of Health, Lib.)

May/29/24 10:11:50 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I share my hon. colleague's excitement. Hearing about Peter getting care and about more than 120,000 seniors across the country getting the care they need has been one of the great and extraordinary privileges of my public life, to be able to talk to seniors who are getting care, in many instances for the first time in a very long time, and the pride that comes to them. I have talked earlier in the committee about the numbers, and the member in his speech mentioned that we are over 10,000. We are over 10,500 now, and the number continues to grow with that new portal opening on July 8. I have talked in the House, as well, about when I was in Vanier meeting with denturists and talking to the seniors that they are meeting. In one instance, there was a woman who had the same pair of dentures in her mouth for 41 years. All that was left were plastic plates, which she used to crush food. Hearing that denturist talk about fitting, this week, a new pair of teeth in that woman's mouth and what that is going to mean to her sense of dignity and to her health is absolutely extraordinary. Whether it is Peter or, just a few days ago, I saw Raphael getting care, this is happening, and we are going to make sure that we do the same thing for pharmacare.

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Context: House Hansard - 318 - May/27/24

Hon. Mark Holland (Minister of Health, Lib.)

May/27/24 2:44:57 p.m.
Watch

Mr. Speaker, 10 years ago, when the party opposite was in power, there were over two million more people in poverty. It is a bit difficult to take their protestations when they had the opportunity and did not talk about these issues. There may be a senior who has had plastic plates to crush food in their mouth, but this week, will get dentures in their mouth for the first time in 41 years. My simple, direct question is this: When the Conservatives are dealing with such a senior, do they believe that senior should get dentures, and will they support making sure that she does?

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Context: House Hansard - 273 - Feb/1/24

Hon. Mark Holland (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Feb/1/24 3:10:16 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Kitchener—Conestoga for his advocacy to make sure that oral health is available for all Canadians. It is now available for those who are 72 years of age and older, and it is going to be rolling out to nine million Canadians. That is 3.5 million seniors and more than a million kids under 18. It is deeply disappointing that the Conservatives are voting against this and looking to get rid of dental care. It is essential not only as preventive medicine but also for the dignity of seniors who are finally being able to replace their dentures and get the oral health care they need.

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Context: House Hansard - 265 - Dec/11/23

Hon. Mark Holland (Minister of Health, Lib.)

Dec/11/23 3:06:03 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, on Thursday and Friday, we got to see what the Conservatives had not been willing to show, which is that in a time of global difficulty when people all over the world are suffering, their solution here in Canada is to cut from the services and supports that Canadians desperately need. What does that mean in dental care? It means for seniors I have been talking to for decades who have not been able to get their dentures, they voted against them getting their dentures and having that dignity. They voted against preventative health care that makes sure people do not get cardiovascular disease or diabetes or that they have to go to an emergency room because they put off that critical care. We are delivering dental care for this country along with the NDP.

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