Territorial dental plan to take effect in December: report
With the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) hitting its first anniversary in April,
With the Confidence and Supply Agreement (CASA) hitting its first anniversary in April, the territory’s Liberal government and the Yukon NDP have released a second report card on how they’re doing in fulfilling the obligations of the accord.
It reveals that the planned public dental care program will take effect in December 2022.
The CASA is due to expire at the end of January 2023.
The report card was released in a statement on Tuesday afternoon.
“The second reports detailing the work of the Putting People First and Our Clean Future implementation committees are now publicly available,” it read.
“These reports are a requirement of the 2021 Confidence and Supply Agreement between the Yukon Liberal Caucus and the Yukon NDP Caucus.”
Two committees were struck to measure the success of the agreement in June 2021.
The Putting People First implementation committee is comprised of Health Minister Tracy-Anne McPhee and NDP MLA Annie Blake.
“The conversations have focused on the department’s work to develop an income-tested, payer-of-last-resort public dental care program. The program is slated to launch in December, 2022,” the release said.
It added, “The committee also discussed the expansion of walk-in/call-in mental health services, the creation of a new walk-in medical clinic in Whitehorse, funding for land-based healing and organizational changes within Yukon government.”
The second committee is the Our Clean Future implementation committee, which is comprised of Environment Minister Nils Clarke and NDP MLA Emily Tredger.
Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker participates as an observer, “as the work involving Our Clean Future is also in the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources’ mandate.
“Recent meetings of this committee have focused on the work being done under the Yukon Climate Leadership Council as well as progress on the 2022 Our Clean Future actions. There are 23 actions identified for 2022, all of which are either in progress or complete.”
Blake, the MLA for Vuntut Gwitchin, said “the government has a responsibility to care for Yukoners’ well-being.
“That includes better health care and the protection of the environment. The Yukon NDP is committed to pushing for more accountability and meaningful action to benefit all Yukoners.”
McPhee added, “The Yukon Liberal government is making substantial progress in implementing the recommendations identified in the Putting People First report and meeting our climate goals in Our Clean Future.
“These two long-term plans provide a road map for the Yukon’s future and will help improve the lives of Yukoners now and for generations to come.
“I look forward to continuing to work with our partners to advance this incredibly important work and build a stronger, more resilient territory.”
Comments (14)
Up 1 Down 0
Wilf on Jul 26, 2022 at 4:56 pm
@Juniper; What do you need dentures for if you never smile?
@Wilf Carter: I just got a pair of progressives with a couple extra coatings and I paid $100 more than Pharmacares allowance. You've been taken.
Up 7 Down 3
Juniper Jackson on Jul 26, 2022 at 7:43 am
I did approve of the dental program for school children. But, I'm not so happy that coke snorters and crack users can now have lovely teeth. The refugee's were already receiving free dental and medical. I think welfare also got free dental anyway. FN are covered. So who is this new plan with an income test aimed at? FN are covered.
Another freebee. I'm so tired of all the handouts. Income testing. Who the hell decides that a person makes too much money to qualify for anything? I make so much money I can pay for this, but not receive any benefits from it. And, after I pay 1300. a month rent, 377. for electric, phone, internet, I have to work to pay for the drugs that are not on the formulary, but keep me alive. I have NO money. And, I don't eat that well either. The government will pay 1400. for dentures from the seniors program, every 2 years. Dentures are $4500. I couldn't come up with $3400. Who is going to have great teeth now?
Personally, I think this is just more Liberal flim flam.. They open their mouth and crap falls out. Why on God's earth is McPhee still around?
Up 8 Down 10
Mitch on Jul 21, 2022 at 8:18 pm
If we don't lose our teeth to scurvy, souls to state or lives to Liberal failure by then, this might be useful. I have benefits, I fought for them for years. I can live without teeth, the Liberals have been doing it my whole life.
Up 14 Down 1
Mitch on Jul 21, 2022 at 5:43 pm
@iBrian - you cite a very good example of ignorance in one Lori Fox. That is a fact. Hey Lori, how is my Twitter attack doing? I wouldn't know, because I'm an adult and I don't use Twitter. Are you finished colonizing the Yukon yet? Or do you think we already did a good enough job of that? Never met someone so ungrateful for this community, that would exploit it for ratings without thought to the consequence. You are still invited to Sourdough Rendezvous, anytime, you and all your friends. Bring winterwear so as to not be offended or discriminated against by the weather.
You should apologize to the Yukon. Fortunately for you, you already have the perfect platform to admit your own biases and seek to work on them. But, knowing you, I bet we get another scathing, vomitous monologue about how you are the victim of our unbridled hatred. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I do wish we had had the opportunity for more meaningful conversation, but you are kinda judgmental for a person screaming about equality... apparently we have that in common. It was not always so.
Up 9 Down 7
You will own nothing and be happy! on Jul 21, 2022 at 12:12 pm
Hey JJ - Quit and live at the Shelter for 6 months until you're better than working benefits kick in. You need to take care of yourself these days - Look out for own best interests!
Up 17 Down 5
Wilf Carter on Jul 21, 2022 at 11:57 am
Has any one looked at what liberals are doing to Pharma Care for seniors? Pharma care used to pay for glasses up to $600 for glasses for seniors now it is $315. To get new lens in glasses now is up $1000 or more and they are sent out to be installed.
Up 14 Down 7
Liberal Dental Plan on Jul 21, 2022 at 6:28 am
Now that dentistry will be more accessible to the rest of us have-nots we shall finally get some truth from this government. I understand that getting truth from a Liberal is a lot like pulling teeth.
This is a good move for the Territory!
Up 34 Down 6
iBrian on Jul 21, 2022 at 6:11 am
Huh, funny cause the kids in school get checked by dentists. Then when you go to work, you know it’s not that expensive for dental.
But I guess smokes, dope, booze, fentanyl; tattoos, more dope, more booze more smokes. It all costs too.
Awesome.
I love seeing whiners who have $5000 work of ink on their arms say they don’t have money for housing or food or dental. Like that Lori Fox of CBC.
Once all our health care is covered by government, then the staff will be too. Then, you won’t need dollars, but Social Credits. Yeah we’re almost at the point of no return. Nothing is free.
Up 21 Down 15
bonanzajoe on Jul 20, 2022 at 8:57 pm
Gotta keep the welfare recipients teeth looking good when they smile at their Socialist masters.
Up 10 Down 18
Politoco on Jul 20, 2022 at 7:26 pm
@ joe - So your only in favour of rich people being able to have teeth?
Up 30 Down 10
Lost In the Yukon on Jul 20, 2022 at 6:42 pm
The program already exists … it’s called Social Assistance. Smoke and Mirrors
Up 14 Down 10
BnR on Jul 20, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Joe said:
“This is about all this unelected pension plan for MLA's coalition has accomplished while the territory and the country we live in falls apart ...”
Can you rewrite that in English Joe?
Up 25 Down 11
Juniper Jackson on Jul 20, 2022 at 4:44 pm
I have got to get off my high horse and get on welfare..I need teeth and hearing aids. AND, i could quit my job. Thing is, if I quit my job, I don't have enough to live on while I wait for 6 months for GIS and top ups to kick in. Damned if I do, and damned if I don't.
Up 42 Down 34
joe on Jul 20, 2022 at 3:24 pm
" income-tested, payer-of-last-resort " big accomplishment... more tax dollars spent. This is about all this unelected pension plan for MLA's coalition has accomplished while the territory and the country we live in falls apart ...