The focus of the Federal Health Minister’s visit to the Rose City on Tuesday afternoon was to provide the residents of Windsor with access to dental care.
The Honourable Holland met with the media on Tuesday afternoon in the office of East Windsor MP Irek Kusmierczyk.
The Smile Carta mobile dental service van owned and operated by Windsor-based dental hygienist Navjeet Gill.
Gill’s mobile platform is a business model that, according to the federal government, not only makes access to the dentist accessible to many more people, but also makes it much more convenient – especially for seniors and people with health and mobility restrictions.
The trio spoke to the media about the positive response from the public and Canadians in general to the program, which makes dental health more accessible to people with and without health insurance.
Smile Wagon, seen on June 25, 2024. (Gary Archibald/CTV News Windsor)
For Holland, it is a step in the right direction to provide this vital health care to those in need, but it is a program that is opposed by the Conservative Party of Canada.
“There are very real consequences, the Conservative government will make these and many other cuts,” Holland said. “We have seen what Conservative governments do to the health service and unfortunately that means we lose all the progress we make. But we will not be deterred by that. [and] I think it’s our job to be out there every day, focusing on the patients and making sure people get the care they need.”
Smile Wagon offers teeth cleaning, whitening, dental exams and other services.
In addition to direct billing to all insurance companies, the company also provides billing services for the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program (NIHB), the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).
Health Minister Peter Holland speaks to the media with MP Irek Kusmierczyk and Smile Wagon founder and operator and dental hygienist Navjeet Gill on June 25, 2024. (Gary Archibald/CTV News Windsor)
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