'Hundreds of thousands' of seniors will get subsidized dental care next month, health minister vows

Roughly 1.6 million Canadian seniors have signed up for the national dental care plan, but only a few thousand dentists have agreed to take part.

"We set up a task group to really get that administrative burden down as low as it can possibly get," Holland said, adding that in 90 per cent of cases, the program's aim will be to have dental offices reimbursed within two days.

That deal, which has been in place now for more than two years, sees the NDP support the Liberals on key votes in the House of Commons, keeping the minority government in power.

Despite repeated requests for comment from the Official Opposition, Conservative health critic Stephen Ellis would not answer questions from reporters Wednesday about where the party stands on the $13 billion dental care program.

Conservative health critic Dr. Stephen Ellis would not answer questions about where his party stands on the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP).

Halifax senior Julie Kelsey called the deployment of the program "a mess" after finding out that, although she qualifies for coverage, her dentist won't be taking part.