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The leader of the federal NDP visited Saskatoon on Thursday to tout the dental care support coming for Canadians later this year and drill down on some other problems people across the country face today.
Jagmeet Singh spent Thursday morning at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Dentistry.
Federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh tries out training technology at the University of Saskatchewan’s College of Dentistry in Saskatoon on April 13, 2023. (Libby Giesbrecht/650 CKOM)
Acknowledging the second-year dentistry students standing behind him while he spoke to media, Singh said those students will be among those providing care for Canadians under the new Canada Dental Plan, something his party has long been pushing for.
“We’ve expanded our health-care system for the first time in a generation,” Singh said, adding that millions more Canadians — including thousands in Saskatchewan — will now have access to dental care.
He said the plan will save families $1,200 a year or more while keeping them from having to avoid care because of financial concerns.
“We heard stories from dental students of people that go into clinics that come in with so much pain that they’ve been living with simply because they cannot afford to get care,” Singh said.
“For those people, I want to say very clearly: by the end of this year, your dental care needs will be free.”
Singh said implementing the plan is something his party “forced the government to do” — noting it’s something both the Liberal and Conservative parties have voted against in the past.
The care will see seniors, children under the age of 18 and people living with disabilities receive bills of $0 when they see a dentist, Singh said.
The NDP leader said he knows more work needs to be done, but is proud of what has been accomplished.
Jagmeet Singh meeting with second-year dentistry students and trying out their technology. He tells students they’ll be the ones giving care to families who maybe wouldn’t have been able to afford it without the new Canada Dental Plan @CKOMNews pic.twitter.com/UkF2TzzhnD
— Libby Giesbrecht (@GiesbrechtLibby) April 13, 2023
Singh also called attention to the increased GST rebate included in the recent federal budget that will see families receive up to $500. Singh said he knows what kind of impact that money can have, and said he could have used that relief himself when he was caring for his younger brother while attending university.
“Sometimes you need a little break when you’re struggling to put food on the table,” he said.
On the other hand, Singh also said there are issues the government hasn’t taken seriously.
He said housing is one of those issues.
“These students (behind me) are going to graduate with great jobs, but still not be able to find places that are affordable to rent or to own,” Singh said.
“People are struggling with the cost of housing. There’s not enough housing that’s affordable in people’s budgets.”
Singh called it a major concern and said he wants to see more affordable homes built faster across Canada without just relying on a market-based solution designed to benefit “billionaires and rich land-owning corporations” that won’t make it affordable for Canadians to buy a home.
He also said he is worried about a future recession, and expressed concern that the Liberal government has yet to act by improving employment insurance for workers. Singh said this issue is one where promises have been made, but there is still no plan in place in case Canadians risk losing their jobs during a recession.
The federal NDP leader’s Saskatoon itinerary on Thursday did not include a visit with Saskatchewan NDP Leader Carla Beck.
When asked, Singh said he’s had conversations with Beck in the past and looks forward to future interactions, but the day’s schedule did not allow for a meeting.