17 / 48
17
Volume 2 Issue 5
|
CDA
at
W
ork
Photographs: Teckles Photo Inc.
➊
(L. to r.) Marie Frawley-
Henry, AFN representative;
Dr. Jason Noel; Laurie
Hawn, Conservative MP
for Edmonton Centre;
Dr. David Zaparinuk.
➋
Members of the CDA
delegation with Carol
Hugues (c.), NDP Aboriginal
Health Critic and MP for
Algmoa–Manitoulin–
Kapuskasing.
➌
(L. to r.) Dr. Thomas Raddall,
chair of CDA's advocacy
committee; Senator Daniel
Lang, member of the
Senate Subcommittee on
Veteran Affairs; Dr. Alastair
Nicoll, CDA president;
Dr. Randall Croutze, CDA
president-elect.
➍
CDA president-elect
Dr. Croutze (r.) presented
a Royal Canadian Dental
Corps centennial pin
to Dr. Harold Albrecht,
Conservative MP for
Kitchener-Conestoga and
a retired dentist.
➎
Liberal Party of Canada
leader Justin Trudeau
chats with CDA president
Dr. Nicoll.
➏
The CDA delegation
including Mr. Kevin
Desjardins (far left), director
of public affairs at CDA,
and Dr. Chris Robinson (far
right) met with Minister of
Health Rona Ambrose.
➐
Kim Elmslie, assistant
deputy minister at the
Public Health Agency
of Canada, with Dr. Nicoll.
➑
CDA president Dr. Nicoll
on Parliament Hill.
➒
Carolyn Bennett (r.), Liberal
Party of Canada Aboriginal
Affairs Critic and a retired
physician, and Dr. Lynn
Tomkins (l.), CDA Board
member.
The CDA delegates recommended that VAC
include in its contracts with LTC facilities
the minimum requirements of an oral
health screening upon admission, an annual
examination by a dentist, a daily mouth care
plan, and suitable infrastructure to support
the appropriate delivery of needed dental
care. “We are thrilled that several MPs
responded positively to our call to action
and offered to help immediately by reaching
out to their relevant ministers and caucus
colleagues,” adds Dr. Raddall.
The event was also an occasion to have
fruitful discussions with Minister of Health
Rona Ambrose. “The meeting with Minister
Ambrose was particularly positive,” says
Dr. Nicoll. “She was very appreciative of
CDA’s responsiveness on many issues; she
even mentioned that we stand as a good
example for our willingness to understand
and address issues with prescription drug
abuse.” CDA delegates covered several topics
with Minister Ambrose, and she committed
to raising the issue of oral health standards
for veterans in LTC facilities with Minister of
Veteran Affairs Erin O’Toole.
Furthermore, the CDA delegation thanked
Minister Ambrose for the opportunity to
participate in several roundtable meetings
this past year, including those on health
care innovation, prescription drug abuse,
and domestic violence and child abuse.
“By having representation at those meetings,
CDA can ensure that the oral health care
needs of the Canadian population are
understood by government and other
relevant stakeholders, and that they are
taken into consideration when developing
policies and initiatives,” concludes
Dr. Raddall.
a
➐
➑
➏
➒