(NORTH BAY, ON) Pauline Rochefort, Member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming, paid a recent visit to Canadore College of Applied Art and Technology's training facility for its Dental Hygiene program. MP Rochefort took a tour with team leaders and discussed with stakeholders the $631,595 in funding the school is receiving through Health Canada's Oral Health Access Fund.
Funding for the project, entitled “VR Training for Dental Hygiene Students: Addressing Mild Cognitive Impairment,” will aim to develop an immersive Virtual Reality (VR) Learning Module to enhance dental hygiene students' ability to care for people with early-stage dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
“I was impressed with the learning environment and the attention to detail of the instructors and students of the Dental Hygiene program at Canadore. After touring the training facilities and speaking with the key players, I have no doubt the funding dollars will be put to good use and will only increase the learning experience and outcomes for patients,” said MP Rochefort.
As part of Oral Health Access Fund Stream 1, Health Canada is providing more than $35 million over three years to support projects submitted by oral health training institutions that aim to address competency gaps related to the treatment of targeted populations and training adaptations to ensure sufficient hands-on training opportunities.
“Canadore College appreciates the support provided by Health Canada to advance the development of this virtual reality training module,” said George Burton, President and CEO. “Our dental hygiene students already gain valuable hands-on experience through the student-led clinic at The Village. This new VR module will further enhance their education by equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to work effectively with patients experiencing early-stage dementia or Alzheimer's disease. It represents an important step in training well-rounded, practice-ready dental professionals.”
Canadian Dental Care Plan reaches significant milestone in Ontario
Meanwhile, the Government of Canada is marking a milestone toward its goal of making oral health care more affordable in Canada.
As of late November 2025, nearly six million Canadians are now covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and can receive the dental care they need. In Ontario, over 2.3 million are covered under the CDCP, and nearly one million residents have already received care from participating oral health providers in the current benefit year (2025-26).
The CDCP helps pay a portion of the cost for a wide range of oral health care services and is making life more affordable by saving eligible Canadians an average of $800 per year. For some, it is their first time seeing an oral health provider in decades. Those eligible for services who do not already have an oral health provider can consult Sun Life's CDCP Provider Search to find an oral health provider in their community.
Preventative care is essential to improving our health care system. Without access to dental care services, some people visit emergency rooms for non-urgent dental issues. These visits make up about one per hundred of visits and could have been treated in a dental office. By covering preventive treatments, the CDCP is helping alleviate pressure on our health care system.
Quotes
“The CDCP is having a profound impact on the lives of Canadians - improving both health and affordability for eligible members. The strong uptake for the CDCP underscores the need for affordable oral health care across the country and the important role that all oral health providers play in improving the overall health of Canadians.”
— The Honorable Marjorie Michel, Minister of Health
“There is a great need in Nipissing—Timiskaming for more frequent and accessible dental care. According to Health Canada, poor oral health can lead to serious health issues, including tooth decay, gum diseases, and oral cancer, which can significantly impact physical and psychological health.
“These initiatives aim to improve oral health care access and coverage for Canadians, ensuring that everyone can maintain good oral health.”
— Pauline Rochefort, Parliamentary Secretary to the Secretary of State for Rural Development & Member of Parliament for Nipissing—Timiskaming
Quick Facts
- All eligible Canadians can apply to the CDCP. To qualify, applicants must:
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- Not have access to dental insurance
- Have filed their individual 2024 tax return in Canada (and their spouse's or common-law partner's, if applicable)
- Have an adjusted family net income of less than $90,000
- Be a Canadian resident for tax purposes
- The top five dental issues that led to emergency department visits but that could have been cared for in dental offices are: abscesses, toothaches, infections, cavities and other lesions inside the mouth. These visits cost the health care system more than $31 million in 2022-23 (with costs ranging from $100,000 to $13.9 million across provinces and territories).
- Close to 100% of active dentists, denturists, dental hygienists, and dental specialists in Canada, including those in educational institutions, are caring for patients covered under the CDCP.
For more information, visit Canada.ca/dental .
Associated Links
• CDCP Key Statistics
• Canadian Dental Care Plan: What you need to know before booking your first appointment and receiving care
Photo: MP Rochefort stands with Canadore President and CAO George Burton together with staff and faculty of the Dental Hygiene Program