Free dental care for lowincome seniors to be announced in Ontario

By Bonnie Heslop

Published: April 9, 2019 at 7:44 PM

The teeth of an elderly man are spoiled by caries, tartar and poor nutrition macro. The harm of alcohol and tobacco concept. Studio macro shotiStock.com/vavlt

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath says the proposal for a seniors dental care program thats being talked about at Queens Park today does not go far enough.

Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath says the proposal for a seniors' dental care program that's being talked about at Queen's Park today does not go far enough.

It's being reported that the Ford government will spend an estimated $100 million per year to give people over 65 living on low incomes access to free preventative dental care.

The goal is to cut down on the number of emergency room visits.

Senior government sources say anyone 65 and over in the province making under $19,300 or $32,300 for couples would qualify.

Horwath says the coverage should be extended to everyone in Ontario.

The NDP also takes issue with the government's definition of a senior on a 'low income.'

Details of the program are expected to be released in the provincial budget document set for release on Thursday.