Health Committee on Feb. 5th, 2026

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

Yes, absolutely.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Sun Life is a private company that you’ve hired to administer the Canadian dental care program. On October 17, the rules for the reimbursement of laboratory fees were changed without notice. That is forcing patients to pay higher amounts.

Are you aware of that?

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

I know that there are sometimes patients who raise several issues that still exist in the dental care system, but I’m not really aware of the changes that require patients to pay more for laboratory fees.

I have to say I do a lot of fieldwork and visit many dental clinics, and it hasn’t been brought up even once.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Okay.

I invite you to speak with the Association des chirurgiens dentistes du Québec, because—

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

I have spoken with the Association des chirurgiens dentistes du Québec.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

—or talk to your constituency office, because I’ve received dozens of letters about it in recent weeks.

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

Maybe they should be sent to us as well. I invite you to get in touch with my office.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

I'd be delighted to.

Are you aware at Health Canada that nearly 200,000 people were approved as being eligible for the Canadian dental care plan, but ultimately received a letter saying they were not eligible for the plan?

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

Excuse me, but are you asking me whether there are people whose eligibility has been denied?

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Yes, 200,000 people.

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

I don't know the circumstances of those people, but if they don’t meet the criteria, they’ll be denied. We can discuss it to see whether there’s an amount—

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

It’s the number I’m not sure about.

In any case, you know that eligibility for the Canadian dental care plan is based on income.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Yes.

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

Some people were probably not eligible, so their application was rejected by the—

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

I’ll explain the situation that’s been reported to us.

People were pre-approved normally by the Canadian dental care plan and they started receiving treatments. Finally, Health Canada sent them rejection letters stating that they had mistakenly been deemed eligible, but that, ultimately, their eligibility was being denied.

Do you understand this situation?

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

Absolutely.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Okay.

I will ask you the following question: Why is the government doing this? We’re talking about nearly 200,000 people who have apparently received these rejection letters.

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

Even if these people received treatments, the minute the government realizes that they shouldn’t have access to this free care, they must be denied access.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

Okay.

Do you find it logical that someone starts receiving dental care, but the government ultimately admits its mistake and tells them to stop treatment?

People have had all their teeth pulled, but it's no big deal that they won't be able to get them replaced; they can just continue to live like that. Is that logical to you?

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

It’s very simple: as you know, dental care is provided based on income. The person had probably exceeded the income limit to be eligible for dental care.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

I’m not talking about income, Minister. I'm talking to you about people who’ve been pre-approved by your plan—

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

That's exactly the case.

[Maxime Blanchette-Joncas, Bloc, Rimouski—La Matapédia, QC]

—and who were ultimately refused. That is affecting their quality of life right now, because they no longer have the means to pay for the care and continue their treatment.

You don’t understand that. Is that what you’re saying?

[The Hon. Marjorie Michel, Liberal, Marjorie Michel]

You’re talking about people who were approved and then later were not approved. I don’t understand.

[Shalene Curtis-Micallef]

If there are changes to the programs, notices are provided.