Minister frustrated by opposition from top groups

Federal Health Minister Mark Holland says it’s “deeply disappointing” that Canada’s top dental groups won’t put their full weight behind the Liberal government’s dental care plan, telling the Star he doesn’t “even know what their issues are anymore.”

- RAISA PATEL

Speaking about the reluctance of Canada’s top dental groups to sign on to a federal plan, Health Minister Mark Holland told the Star that he doesn’t “even know what their issues are anymore.”

The minister’s comments come after the Star reported that the heads of all but one of the country’s national, provincial and territorial dental associations have yet to sign on to the coverage program, citing outstanding concerns over administrative burdens associated with delivering the plan.

“I’m frustrated because I literally have worked through every issue that they’ve raised and had. I don’t even know what their issue is,” Holland said in an interview Thursday.

“I don’t even know how to solve their concerns. And that is bothersome because we’ve got people who desperately need care and so we’ve got to get on the other side of this.”