QUEEN'S PARK – Ontario NDP Seniors Critic Lise Vaugeois and Health Critic France Gélinas are releasing a statement after the Ford government finally listened to their calls and increased the Ontario Seniors Dental Care Program (OSDCP) income threshold.
"The NDP has long been advocating for changes to the OSDCP, and this is a first step in helping low-income seniors get the care they rightfully deserve and need. Factors like the cost of living should have been factored in years ago when making these thresholds. We must continue to adjust these figures to reflect current economic realities, so seniors don't have to endure excruciating wait times for essential dental care," said Vaugeois.
"The next step for the Conservative government is to work with dentists, community health centres, and aboriginal health access centres to increase the number of providers that serve seniors through the OSDCP."
"While this change is a positive development, it's important to remember that the cost of everything has gone up under this conservative government,” said Gélinas. “The Ontario cut-off will still leave many low-income seniors ineligible and without care.”
“I've had constituents who were just dollars over the limit and had to stop receiving care during their dental treatment because this Conservative government limited eligibility. We must remember them and figure out a plan to get them the best care possible so that never happens again," concluded Vaugeois.