The government plans to slowly enrol people in a new dental-insurance plan over the course of the next year, and dental professionals are watching closely to see how the program could affect staff shortages and private insurance. Health Minister Mark Holland announced the rollout of the program, which is currently budgeted to cost $13 billion over the next five years, at a news conference at a dental clinic at Algonquin College in Ottawa. (Dec. 11, 2023)