Access to dental care for Windsors was a focus of the federal Health Minister's visit to the Rose City on Tuesday afternoon.
Councillor Peter Holland spoke with reporters at Councillor Irek Kusmierczyk's East Windsor constituency office on Tuesday afternoon.
On display at the venue was the Smile Wagon, a mobile dental care service van owned and operated by local Windsor-based dental hygienist Navjeet Gill.
Gill's mobile platform is a business model that the federal government believes will not only make dental care more accessible to more people, but also make it far more convenient, particularly for older people and those with health or mobility issues.
The three spoke to media about the positive response from the local community and Canadians at large to the program, which makes dental care more accessible to everyone, regardless of whether they have health insurance.
The Smile Wagon, photographed June 25, 2024. (Gary Archibald/CTV News Windsor)
To Holland, this is a move in the right direction to get this vital health service to those who need it. It's also a program the Conservative Party of Canada opposes.
“There will be very real consequences – a Conservative government will make these and many more cuts,” Holland said. “We've seen what a Conservative government will do to health care and unfortunately all the progress we've made will be lost. But we will not be deterred by that.” [and] “We see it as our job to be there every day and focus on the patient and make sure people get the care they need.”
Smile Wagon offers services such as teeth cleaning, whitening, and oral examinations.
In addition to direct billing to all insurance companies, the company also provides billing services for the Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) program, the Canada Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
Health Minister Peter Holland speaks to the media alongside Member of Parliament Irek Kusmierczyk and Smile Wagon founder and operator and dental hygienist Navjit Gill on June 25, 2024. (Gary Archibald/CTV News Windsor)
