Ontario Budget 2019: CARP weighs in

Long-Term Care Beds and Dental Care for Low-Income Seniors Good First Steps, But Ontario Budget Misses Mark on Preventive Health

April 11, 2019 – Toronto – The Ontario government’s budget commitment to fund dental care for low-income seniors, accelerate the introduction of new long-term care beds and eliminate the estate administration tax are good first steps but the budget was silent on adult vaccines.

CARP, Canada’s largest advocacy organization for older adults, released its FACES of Canada’s Seniors policy platform in 2018. In it, CARP called for affordable and accessible dental care for all seniors, including hygiene and restorative work. “The Ontario government’s budget commitment to provide dental care to low-income seniors is a good first start, but it must include restorative work. Oral health is critical to keeping seniors healthy and out of hospital. We look forward to learning more about the details of this program,” said Laura Tamblyn Watts, Chief Public Policy Officer, CARP. Read more