MP Rochefort announces funding for Canadore’s Dental Hygiene Program

Article content

Nipissing—Timiskaming MP Pauline Rochefort was at Canadore College of Applied Arts and Technology’s training facility for its Dental Hygiene program, where she took a tour and announced $631,595 in funding the school is receiving through Health Canada’s Oral Health Access Fund.

Article content

The money is going towards the ‘VR Training for Dental Hygiene Students: Addressing Mild Cognitive Impairment’ initiative, which aims to develop an immersive virtual reality (VR) learning module to enhance dental hygiene students’ ability to care for people with early-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.

Article content

Recommended Videos

Article content

“I was impressed with the learning environment and the attention to detail of the instructors and students of the Dental Hygiene program at Canadore. After touring the training facilities and speaking with the key players, I have no doubt the funding dollars will be put to good use and will only augment the learning experience and outcomes for patients,” said MP Rochefort.

Health Canada is providing more than $35 million over three years to support projects submitted by oral health training institutions that aim to address competency gaps related to the treatment of targeted populations and training adaptations to ensure sufficient hands-on training opportunities.

Article content

“Canadore College appreciates the support provided by Health Canada to advance the development of this virtual reality training module,” said George Burton, Canadore’s CEO. “Our dental hygiene students already gain valuable hands-on experience through the student-led clinic at The Village. This new VR module will further enhance their education by equipping them with the skills and confidence needed to work effectively with patients experiencing early-stage dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. It represents an important step in training well-rounded, practice-ready dental professionals.”

Meanwhile, the Government of Canada is marking a milestone toward its goal of making oral health care more affordable in Canada.

Article content

As of late November 2025, nearly six million Canadians are now covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and can receive the dental care they need. In Ontario, over 2.3 million are covered under the CDCP, and nearly one million residents have already received care from participating oral health providers in the current benefit year (2025-26).

The CDCP helps pay a portion of the cost for a wide range of oral health care services and saves recipients an average of $800 per year. For some, it is their first time seeing an oral health provider in decades. Those eligible for services who do not already have an oral health provider can consult Sun Life’s CDCP Provider Search to find an oral health provider in their community.

Article content

Without access to dental care services, some people visit emergency rooms for non-urgent dental issues. These visits make up about one per cent of visits and could have been treated in a dental office.

“There is a great need in Nipissing—Timiskaming for more frequent and accessible dental care. According to Health Canada, poor oral health can lead to serious health issues, including tooth decay, gum diseases, and oral cancer, which can significantly impact physical and psychological health. These initiatives aim to improve oral health care access and coverage for Canadians, ensuring that everyone can maintain good oral health,” said Rochefort.

Article content