Advocacy Highlights by Year - 2025

Archives

See below for past years:

2024 |  2023 |  2022 |  2021 |  2020

2025 Federal Election - CDHA priorities for all federal political parties

April 16, 2025 - During the 2025 federal election, CDHA mobilized advocacy efforts to ensure oral health remained a visible and relevant issue on the national agenda. CDHA called on all federal political parties to prioritize three key areas: continued federal investments in affordable, accessible, and preventive oral health care; implementation of long-term care service standards that include dental hygienists in team-based care; and dedicated funding to support oral health research. To amplify these priorities, CDHA encouraged grassroots advocacy across the country. Dental hygienists were encouraged to engage with local candidates, share their stories, and raise awareness of the profession’s impact through emails to candidates, social media, and community events. These collective efforts aimed to elevate the profile of dental hygiene and influence health policy discussions during the campaign.

Fee parity for CDCP dental hygienists' services

April 1, 2025 - CDHA is proud to share a major advocacy success: fee parity for dental hygiene services under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has been achieved. On April 1, 2025, the federal government released the updated CDCP Dental Benefit Grids, which now reflect aligned compensation for independent dental hygienists. These fees apply to all covered services rendered as of that date, with many preventive services seeing substantive increases. This milestone follows a March 22, 2025, announcement that all remaining eligible Canadians aged 18–64 would be able to apply to the CDCP starting May 1, significantly expanding access to care.

The announcement was reinforced during the opening ceremonies of CDHA’s 2024 National Conference, where the Honourable Mark Holland, then Minister of Health, confirmed that all necessary approvals had been received to implement fee schedule parity in the new year. Minister Holland expressed deep appreciation for the profession, stating, “We need a healthcare system based in prevention, not crisis, and dental hygienists understand that better than anyone.”

CDHA Board Advocacy Day on Parliament Hill

February 27, 2025 - CDHA’s board of directors gathered in Ottawa for its annual Advocacy Day on Parliament Hill. Despite a modified format due to the prorogation of Parliament, the event was a success. Directors from across the country met with key federal stakeholders—including the deputy minister of health, members of Parliament, and ministerial staff—to advocate for continued investments in affordable and preventive oral health care. The day began with a press conference on Parliament Hill with a clear message: investing in oral health care not only improves health outcomes but also delivers positive economic returns—especially critical as Canadians face a cost-of-living crisis and broader economic uncertainty. CDHA continues to call on the federal government to prioritize oral health as an essential component of Canada’s health care system.