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Shannon Miedema, Liberal MP for Halifax, announces $2.4 million to support oral health     Cody Turner photos

Shannon Miedema, Liberal MP for Halifax, held a news conference on level 1 of the Dentistry Building on November 29, 2025, to announce $2.4 million in new funding to our Faculty of Dentistry for oral health. An audience of faculty and staff from the Faculty of Dentistry attended the event and Braedon Clark, MP for Sackville-Bedford-Preston was also present.

Dr. Ben Davis, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, commended the government for its commitment to oral health and said that oral disease has a disproportionate impact on poor, vulnerable, and marginalized populations. Prior to the introduction of Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) in December 2023, approximately one-third of Canadians were without dental insurance and around one-quarter avoided going to the dentist because of the cost.

Dr. Ben Davis, dean of the Faculty of Dentistry and Shannon Miedema MP

CDCP now has nearly six million Canadians enrolled, he said, including 1600 in our Faculty of Dentistry. Barriers remained, however, for the unhoused, newcomers to Canada, and those who have not filed tax returns. Health Canada "listened to stakeholders", said Davis, and the Oral Health Access Fund (OHAF) was created to address some of the gaps.

Miedema announced two grants for the Faculty of Dentistry. The first, for $1.98 million, will help to ensure that our dental hygiene and dentistry students continue to receive the comprehensive training needed to provide oral health care to their communities. An additional $424,000 grant is aimed at enhancing equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility as part of the oral health care our Faculty provides, and supporting community engagement and outreach staff.

"This work isn’t just about improving the wellbeing of Canadians," said Miedema, "it’s about reducing health care costs, boosting productivity, and building a stronger economy." Preventative care is a wise investment, she added, that contributes to a "strong health care system and a stronger Canada".

The new measures announced will benefit both patients and oral health students, said Davis. "Our Faculty is extremely grateful to the federal government for this vital project funding and we look forward to implementing our plans."

Shannon Miedema, Dr. Ben Davis, Braedon Clark