CDHA submission ahead of Canada’s 2026 budget
April 2026 - CDHA has made comments to the House of Commons Standing
Committee on Finance through its 2026 pre-budget consultation process. CDHA
urges the federal government to protect and strategically enhance preventive
coverage within the CDCP, and highlights recommendations for workforce
planning and community-based oral health infrastructure. These annual
consultations provide a key opportunity to influence federal priorities
before budget decisions are finalized. Read the full submission.
Major Advocacy Milestone: Canada Student Loan Forgiveness Now Available to
Dental Hygienists
Dental hygienists working in eligible rural and remote communities are now
officially included in the Canada Student Loan Forgiveness program as of
December 31, 2025. This expansion follows the federal government’s 2024
budget commitment to add dental hygienists and dentists to the program—an
important recognition of the role of oral health. This achievement
represents a major advocacy milestone for CDHA, reflecting more than a
decade of sustained efforts to advance federal loan forgiveness for the
profession and highlight the total costs of dental hygiene education. The
program’s implementation will help strengthen rural and remote health care
by supporting the recruitment and retention of dental hygienists in
underserved areas. CDHA will continue monitoring
implementation
and advocating for policies that strengthen access to care in underserved
rural and remote communities. Visit the
program website
to learn more about the eligibility requirements and application process,
and read CDHA’s
media release
for additional details and context.