CDA Essentials 2018 • Volume 5 • Issue 5

CDA at W ork The essential role of data in policy discussions CDA also underscored the importance of maintaining the oral health component of the CHMS, which was first added to this national survey in 2010. Dr. Taillon told MPs that capturing clinical data on Canadians’ oral health is essential to help make well-informed and targeted policy decisions. The results from the 2010 CHMS provided valuable baseline clinical data about Canadians’ oral health and has been used to support and inform public health discussions in Canada. However, there is a need for similar clinical data collection in future iterations of the CHMS, to build upon the existing knowledge base. “Our advocacy team had a very successful event; our key messages were focused, interrelated and universally well received by MPs from all parties,” says Dr. Tom Raddall, chair of the CDA Advocacy Committee. “The politicians and their staff were particularly engaged, as they are spending the summer months developing their election platforms for the next federal election. We also took every opportunity to repeat our concerns about the negative consequences of the small business tax changes and their effect on our dental clinics – aka our ‘mini-hospitals’.” a ➊ ➋ ➌ ➍ ➊ (L. to r.) Dr. Mitch Taillon, CDA president; Hon. Jane Philpott, Minister of Indigenous Services; Dr. Sandy Mutchmor, CDA president-elect. ➋ (L. to r.) Dr. Tom Raddall, chair of the CDA Advocacy Committee, Dr. Mutchmor; Hon. Andrew Scheer, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada; Dr. Taillon; Kevin Desjardins, CDA director of public affairs; Harold Albrecht, Conservative Party MP (Kitchener—Conestoga) and a former dentist. ➌ (L. to r.) Dr. Raddall, Dr. Taillon; Hon. Jagmeet Singh, Leader of the New Democratic Party; Dr. Mutchmor. ➍ CDA leadership in conversation with Senator Mary Jane McCallum (DMD 1990, University of Manitoba). Senator McCallum, a First Nations woman of Cree heritage, has provided dental care to First Nations communities across Manitoba. Photographs: Teckles Photo Inc. 11 Issue 5 | 2018 |