The Parliamentary Budget Officer said the cost of a new dental plan for uninsured low and middle -income Canadians could be nearly double what the federal government originally estimated.
This program is an integral part of the agreement the Liberals reached with the New Democratic Party to govern until 2025, without being defeated by a vote of confidence in Parliament.
The Liberals have promised to provide year -end coverage for children in households with incomes less than $ 90,000, then expand coverage in 2023 to seniors and people with disabilities.
The government budget in 2022 proposed that the plan be worth $ 5.3 billion over the next five years.
In a memo estimating the value of the law, however, the Parliamentary Budget Officer said the cost of this regime could be closer to $ 9 billion over five years.
The government has just over six months to implement this completely new program, but it appears that it is still in the consultation stage of its planning.
The Canadian Press
Source: Radio-Canada
