CDHA submissions for Budget 2025 consultations
August 26, 2025 - In July, CDHA submitted a 2025 pre-budget submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance (FINA) in advance of Budget 2025, positing our recommendations for the federal government to:
- Prioritize the long-term sustainability and coordination of federal oral health investments, including the Canadian
Dental Care Plan, the Oral Health Access Fund, and Oral Health Data Initiatives, with an emphasis on ensuring that any
potential spending adjustments are preceded by comprehensive consultation with stakeholders to safeguard program
integrity and access to care goals.
- Embed oral health in planning, building, and supporting the health workforce to meet current and future needs.
- Invest in community-based oral health infrastructure with a focus on seniors and long-term care.
CDHA continued this focus in our August submission to Finance Canada as part of its annual pre-budget consultation process to hear from Canadians about their most pressing priorities to shape the 2025 federal budget.
CDHA Advocacy Meetings with Parliamentarians
June 17, 2025 - This year marks a significant political shift in Canada, with the formation of a new federal
government under Prime Minister Mark Carney and the election of over 100 new Members of Parliament. CDHA continued its strong advocacy efforts to advance the dental hygiene profession and
improve access to oral health care across Canada by engaging with Members of Parliament from both major parties ,
ensuring our voice was heard on critical issues before the House of Commons adjourned for the summer. We addressed
the urgent need to improve access to oral health care in rural and remote communities, emphasized the importance of
preventive dental hygiene care for vulnerable people, and raised concerns about the impact of international student
caps on dental hygiene programs nationwide. In addition, CDHA brought attention to workplace challenges affecting
dental hygienists and the implications of trade tariffs on dental markets. These discussions underscored the
importance of prioritizing oral health as a fundamental component of public well-being, especially in the face of
today’s economic pressures and shifting health care demands.
2025 Federal Election - CDHA priorities for all federal political parties
April 16, 2025 - During the 2025 federal election,
CDHA mobilized advocacy efforts to ensure oral health remained a
visible and relevant issue on the national agenda. CDHA called on all federal political parties to prioritize three
key
areas: continued federal investments in affordable, accessible, and preventive oral health care; implementation of
long-term care service standards that include dental hygienists in team-based care; and dedicated funding to support
oral health research. To amplify these priorities, CDHA encouraged grassroots advocacy across the country. Dental
hygienists were encouraged to engage with local candidates, share their stories, and raise awareness of the
profession’s
impact through emails to candidates, social media, and community events. These collective efforts aimed to elevate
the
profile of dental hygiene and influence health policy discussions during the campaign.
Fee parity for CDCP dental hygienists' services
April 1, 2025 - CDHA is proud to share a major advocacy success: fee parity for dental hygiene services under the
Canadian Dental Care
Plan (CDCP) has been achieved. On April 1, 2025, the federal government released the updated CDCP
Dental Benefit Grids, which now reflect aligned compensation for independent dental hygienists. These fees apply to
all
covered services rendered as of that date, with many preventive services seeing substantive increases. This
milestone
follows a March 22, 2025, announcement that all remaining eligible Canadians aged 18–64 would be able to apply to
the
CDCP starting May 1, significantly expanding access to care.
The announcement was reinforced during the opening ceremonies of
CDHA’s 2024 National Conference,
where the Honourable Mark Holland, then Minister of Health, confirmed that all necessary approvals had been received
to implement fee
schedule parity in the new year. Minister Holland expressed deep appreciation for the profession, stating, “We need
a
healthcare system based in prevention, not crisis, and dental hygienists understand that better than anyone.”
CDHA Board Advocacy Day on Parliament Hill
February 27, 2025 - CDHA’s board of directors gathered in Ottawa for its annual Advocacy Day on Parliament Hill.
Despite
a modified format due to the prorogation of Parliament, the event was a success. Directors from across the country
met
with key federal stakeholders—including the deputy minister of health, members of Parliament, and ministerial
staff—to
advocate for continued investments in affordable and preventive oral health care. The day began with a press
conference
on Parliament Hill with a clear message: investing in oral health care not only improves health outcomes but also
delivers positive economic returns—especially critical as Canadians face a cost-of-living crisis and broader
economic
uncertainty. CDHA
continues to call on the federal government to prioritize oral health as an essential component of
Canada’s health care system.