Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Despite the well-established connection between oral health and overall well-being, far too many Northerners continue to face significant barriers when trying to access even the most basic dental care. Mr. Speaker, this lack of access does not only impact residents; it also carries a substantial financial burden for the government. When dental services are not available in communities, preventable oral health issues escalate to emergencies requiring medical travel, an expense that continues to grow year after year.
Oral health is not a luxury. It is a core component of general health, affecting nutrition, speech, confidence, mental health, and the management of chronic disease. Untreated dental problems often lead to infections, pain, difficulty eating, and serious medical complications. These cases too often result in emergency room visits or specialist referrals that require costly travel arrangements, accommodations, escorts, and sometimes repeated follow-up appointments.
The result is avoidable strain on both residents and the government's already overextended medical travel budgets, yet many residents in small remote communities wait months, sometimes years, for a visiting dental provider, if one arrives at all. Others must leave their communities at significant personal and financial costs. These gaps in coverage create inequities that Northerners should not be expected to accept.
Mr. Speaker, we must do better; invest in reliable, community-based dental services. It is not only the right thing to do for residents; it is also fiscally responsible. Strengthening dental services contracts improve recruitment, retention, and collaboration with Indigenous governments on local preventative programs. We will reduce medical travel costs and promote healthier communities. Oral health must be treated as a priority, not as an afterthought. This government must take meaningful action to ensure every community has dependable access to dental care. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I will have questions for the Minister of health.