With clock ticking, future of Liberals' dental and pharmacare programs uncertain

With a federal election potentially just months away, the future of two of the Liberal government's landmark social programs — dental and pharmacare — is unclear.

Two-thirds of the Canadians set to be covered under the new national dental insurance program are still not eligible. The federal government has also yet to sign a single deal with provinces and territories enabling Ottawa to pay for contraceptive and diabetes medications.

"Nothing is guaranteed. We're in a volatile circumstance," federal Health Minister Mark Holland acknowledged last week.

"I will be relentless in making sure that we finish," he said. "I don't think we need a lot of time to do it. We need a little bit more."

But time is running out for Holland to see the two programs through, with the three major opposition parties vowing to bring down the Liberal government with a confidence vote as early as March, triggering a federal election.

That includes the NDP — who pushed the government to bring in both programs — but now says the Liberals' time is up.

Right now, the Canadian Dental Care Plan is helping pay the cost of dental work for three million seniors, children and Canadians who receive the disability tax credit. The program was set to expand early this year for eligible adults aged 19 to 64 — an additional six million people. That hasn't happened yet and Health Canada hasn't provided any details on when it will.

"I want to see this get done," Holland said.

Pharmacare legislation passed last fall, laying the groundwork for Ottawa to begin covering the cost of contraceptive and diabetes drugs and devices. Holland said negotiations with provinces and territories to sign agreements to make that a reality are going "exceptionally well."

But so far, only a memorandum of understanding has been reached with British Columbia. Not a single deal has been inked.

"I am very excited and confident that we're going to be able to get that done," Holland said. "I think then there will be a choice for Parliament.… Do we get a little bit more time to get all of the pharmacare deals done?"

NDP health critic and house leader Peter Julian said his party won't be giving the Liberals more time.

"All it takes is will on behalf of this Liberal government," Julian said.

The New Democrats supported the Liberals for more than two years through a confidence and supply agreement, in return for the Trudeau government bringing in social programs — including national public dental and pharmacare plans.