Most disabled Canadians won't qualify for national dental care plan, advocates say

Kevin Konnyu spent a decade navigating the health-care system before he was approved recently for financial assistance through Ontario's disability support program.

But even though his province recognizes his disability, that's not enough on its own to qualify him for coverage under Canada's new national public dental insurance program.

Instead, he has to prove to Ottawa he's disabled through several more applications.

«What more proof does the government need?» he said. «If you're recognized in any province or in any federal program as having a disability, then I don't know why that's not good enough to qualify you for basic dental coverage.»

The federal government's Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) has been gradually expanding eligibility for subsidized dental care to low- and middle-income Canadian residents who don't have private insurance. On June 27, people with disabilities were told they could apply.

But advocates say only a fraction of people with disabilities will be covered.

A recent parliamentary budget officer report said up to 1.4 million severely disabled Canadians could be eligible for the proposed Canada Disability Benefit — a statistic advocates say indicates how many people with disabilities ought to have access to the CDCP.

The problem, advocates say, is that Ottawa is using its disability tax credit to decide whether someone qualifies for programs like the CDCP or the Canada Disability Benefit.

«The disability tax credit is increasingly becoming a gateway to social programs and it was never designed to be that,» said Michelle Hewitt, board chair for the advocacy organization Disability Without Poverty.

Administered by the Canada Revenue Agency, the tax credit provides a tax break largely to middle- and