Plain Packaging of Tobacco Products in Canada

World No Tobacco Day took place on May 31, and this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control called upon all countries to adopt plain packaging of tobacco products. Read CDHA’s Media Release on this topic for more information.

Over the past year, CDHA has met with Health Canada’s Tobacco Control directorate to discuss plain paper standardized packaging, and is pleased to hear that Minister Philpott has launched a public consultation on tobacco plain packaging. CDHA members are encouraged to share their views on potential plain packaging elements by completing the online questionnaire.

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Amendments to Radiation Emitting Devices Regulations

In light of ever-advancing technology and the evolution of ionizing radiation environments, CDHA is pleased that the federal government has released proposed amendments to the Radiation Emitting Devices Regulations (dental X-ray equipment). In addition, the government has launched a 75-day comment period on these proposed amendments.

In response, CDHA is preparing a submission to highlight the importance not only of aligning Canada's regulations with international standards, but also of promoting radiation safety and, most importantly, addressing a broader scope of dental X-ray technologies and innovations, including transportable hand-held equipment.

Advocating for Seniors’
Oral Health

For the first time in Canada, people ages 65 and over outnumber those under 15 years of age. CDHA continues to advocate for improved access to care for older adults and greater awareness of the importance of preventive and therapeutic dental hygiene services.

If you missed it, read about our participation in the Hill Times Innovation in Seniors Care event, held on June 2, and use these recently developed one-page advocacy resources to help reinforce the need for improved public health policies relating to seniors’ oral health.

Let’s take action today to help address the oral health needs of our aging population!

Federal Budget

The 2016 federal budget was presented on March 22 by Finance Minister Bill Morneau. CDHA prepared a briefing for our members to inform them of relevant finance department priorities for the profession.

As we look to 2017, the federal government’s Standing Committee on Finance has launched its pre-budget consultation process and has invited Canadians to share their priorities. CDHA will develop a written submission outlining opportunities for improving access to preventive oral health care through innovation and the optimization of resources.

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NIHB Welcomes Dental Hygienists as Independent Service Providers

CDHA and the Non-Insured Health Benefits Program (NIHB) are pleased to announce that, effective June 1 (July 1 for BC), NIHB will allow dental hygienists to submit claims to the program as independent service providers.

For more information on how to become an independent service provider with NIHB, please contact CDHA and/or your provincial dental hygiene association. (NOTE: Interested dental hygiene providers in BC are encouraged to contact CDHBC and BCDHA for additional information on provincial requirements.) You can also download the Welcome Letter from NIHB (Français) and the FAQ sheet (Français).

Continuing the Conversation with Key Decision Makers

During CDHA’s Lobby Day on Parliament Hill, CDHA met with key decision makers and members of Parliament to discuss a number of priorities for dental hygienists across the country, including access to care for at-risk populations, seniors’ oral health and innovation, health human resources in rural/remote and Indigenous communities, and tobacco control. Subsequent to this event, meetings were held with the federal Minister of Health and with representatives from the Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour to discuss these same critical issues.

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