COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION

That Council lobby the federal and provincial governments to develop a publicly funded oral health care strategy that addresses the need for an increased level of publicly funded dental care to address the needs of all Canadians.

Recommandation du Comité

Que le Conseil municipal exercer des pressions sur les gouvernement fédéral et provincial afin d’élaborer une stratégie sur le financement public des soins dentaires qui répondra à la nécessité d’accroître le niveau de soins dentaires financés publiquement afin de satisfaire aux besoins de tous les Canadiens.

DOCUMENTATION

1. Vice-Chair, Poverty Issues Advisory Committee report dated 18 January 2007 (ACS2007-CCV-POI-0001).

Report to/Rapport au:

Community and Protective Services Committee

Comité des services communautaires et de protection

and Council / et au Conseil

18 January 2007 / le 18 janvier 2007

Submitted by/Soumis par: Vice-Chair, Poverty Issues Advisory Committee

Vice-Présidente, Comité consultatif sur les questions liées à la pauvreté

Contact Person/Personne-ressource: Julie Tremblay,

Advisory Committee Coordinator/Coordonnatrice de comités consultatifs

Corporate Services Department/Services généraux

(613) 580-2424 x28719, Julie.Tremblay@ottawa.ca

City Wide

Ref N°: ACS2007-CCV-POI-0001

SUBJECT:

BASIC DENTAL COVERAGE

OBJET:

ASSURANCE DES SOINS DENTAIRES DE BASE

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That the Poverty Issues Advisory Committee recommend that the Community and Protective Services Committee recommend that Council lobby the federal and provincial governments to develop a publicly funded oral health care strategy that addresses the need for an increased level of publicly funded dental care to address the needs of all Canadians.

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité consultatif sur les questions liées à la pauvreté recommande au Comité des services communautaires et de protection de recommander à son tour au Conseil d’exercer des pressions sur les gouvernement fédéral et provincial afin d’élaborer une stratégie sur le financement public des soins dentaires qui répondra à la nécessité d’accroître le niveau de soins dentaires financés publiquement afin de satisfaire aux besoins de tous les Canadiens.

BACKGROUND

The mandate of the Poverty Issues Advisory Committee is to provide advice to Ottawa City Council, through the Community and Protective Services Committee, and its Departments, on issues that impact and address poverty in the City.

On 9 January 2007, the Poverty Issues Advisory Committee considered and approved the following Motion with respect to basic dental coverage for low-income Canadians:

WHEREAS basic dental coverage for adults on social assistance used to be provided and is no longer available;

WHEREAS the campaign to have basic dental care for adults added to OHIP has not yet been successful;

WHEREAS basic dental care is an integral part of good overall health, and;

WHEREAS low-income Canadians are particularly vulnerable and are likely to have the greatest dental needs;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Poverty Issues Advisory Committee recommend that the Community and Protective Services Committee recommend to Council to lobby the federal and the provincial government to develop a publicly funded oral health care strategy that addresses the need for an increased level of publicly funded dental care to address the needs of all Canadians.

DISCUSSION

in 2004, the poverty issues advisory committee highlighted the problems in accessing dental services for low-income groups. despite considerable improvements in overall oral health of canadians, a significant portion of the population continues to suffer from dental disease and has limited access to care. there is a need for increased care and increased funding; dental care is a health issue that cannot be added to local tax base but it is difficult for the city to act alone. in order to meet the high demand for dental care, especially among the low-income population, the federal and provincial governments need to commit to a national oral health strategy, and support this commitment with more funding for dental health care.

The following reports from the Poverty Issues Advisory Committee (PIAC) and the Health, Recreation and Social Services Committee (HRSSC) further illuminate their recommended approaches on the subject matter:

1. PIAC – Comprehensive Dental Program (ACS2004-CCV-POI-0001) was considered by the (HRSSC) on 15 January 2004 and by Council on 28 January 2004.

2. PIAC – Identifying Gaps – A Preliminary Review of the Dental Services Available for Low-Income Families (ACS2004-CCV-POI-0002) was considered by the (HRSSC) on 19 February 2004 and by Council on 10 March 2004.

3. Dental Needs – Identifying Gaps – A Preliminary Review of the Dental Services Available for Low-Income Families (ACS2004-CCS-HRS-0015) was considered by (HRSSC) on 17 June 2004 and by Council on 14 July 2004.

4. Access to Dental Care: A National Dental Care Strategy (ACS2004-CPS-PAR-0012) was considered by (HRSSC) on 7 October 2004 and by Council on 27 October 2004.

CONSULTATION

As recommended by the Poverty Issues Advisory Committee, the above Motion was circulated to the Health and Social Services Advisory Committee (23 January 2007) and to the Seniors Advisory Committee (17 January 2007) for endorsement. Both Committees fully endorsed the PIAC recommendation.

Community and Protective Services Department has been consulted and submits the following comments:

COMMUNITY AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES

The Dental Officer of Health supports the PIAC motion. The previous efforts by the City of Ottawa have been instrumental in bringing attention to this National issue.

The motion presented by Councillor Deans on behalf of Council to the Canadian Federation of Municipalities in May 2005, received national attention and was repeatedly quoted during a number of key symposiums and Government meetings related to the dental needs of those most in need in Canada. It led to a personal commitment by then Minister for Public Health Caroline Bennett to examine what the Federal Government could do. Later, the Martin Government announced the creation of a Chief Dental Officer for Canada as a first step in putting the resources in place to begin addressing the issue. Dr. Peter Cooney has been appointed and the City of Ottawa Public Health unit continues to support his endeavors to bring the dental needs of Canadians to the forefront.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no direct financial implications associated with this report.

DISPOSITION

The City Clerk, in consultation with Community and Protective Services staff will prepare letters to the appropriate Ministers at both levels of government.