VAUGHAN, Ont. — Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Tuesday that his party will not scrap the federal Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) if elected.
“We will protect these programs, and nobody who has them will lose them,” Poilievre said when asked about the CDCP and pharmacare — social programs introduced by the Liberal government with NDP support.
“We will make sure that nobody loses their dental care,” he added.
The Conservatives initially voted against the CDCP when it was introduced, but the program has proven popular. A survey conducted by Abacus Data for The Logic earlier this year found that 62 per cent of respondents want the program to continue. The poll also found that half of those who plan to vote Conservative want the CDCP maintained.
So far, the federal government says the CDCP has helped more than 1.7 million Canadians access dental care. As the program rolls out its final phase, an additional 4.5 million eligible Canadians aged 18 to 64 are expected to start applying in May.