Two sources familiar with the announcement said the initial program would be implemented in 2022 for families with children under 12. The program will be means tested. Families with no existing dental coverage and income below $70,000 will be eligible for checks of $650 per child per year. The amount drops to $390 if the family income is between $70,000 and $80,000 and to $260 for families with income between $80,000 and $90,000. Families with incomes above $90,000 will not be eligible for the program. An NDP source said the party is seeking a broader implementation of the full $650. The Globe and Mail did not identify the sources as they were not authorized to comment publicly on the announcement. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is scheduled to hold a news conference Thursday where he is expected to announce the details of dental care as part of a package of measures aimed at helping lower-income Canadians with rising living costs caused by inflation. The announcement will also include a temporary increase in GST credit and new rent support, according to a source. The Canadian Press also reported that the announcement includes the three elements of the GST credit, rent support and dental care. The measures will be announced Thursday in Vancouver, where the Liberal cabinet is holding a political retreat. The Liberal minority government announced a deal in March in which the NDP agreed to back the Liberals for confidence votes in exchange for action on a list of policy priorities. The agreement said the new dental care program would begin in 2022 and be fully implemented by 2025. The NDP supported an insurance-based system. The announcement of a mandate-based program is being presented as an interim measure while policy work continues on how a longer-term system would work. NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is currently in Halifax for an NDP caucus meeting. He said earlier this week that his party and the Liberals have engaged in extensive discussions throughout the summer about the dental care plan. For subscribers: Get exclusive political news and analysis by subscribing to Political information.
