• Canada Dental Care Plan working but costing more than expected: auditor general

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-10-29 14:50:35.0
  Tags: [National, Healthcare, Affordability, Finance, Social Services]

  A report by Auditor General Karen Hogan found that Health Canada's Canadian Dental Care Plan exceeded its initial budget commitments by $1.1 billion during the 2024–25 and 2025–26 fiscal years, with an anticipated further shortfall of $2.4 billion by 2032 due to higher-than-anticipated claim payments per member. While the program successfully reduced average household out-of-pocket dental expenses from $536 in 2023 to $264 for users, the audit revealed persistent public confusion, with 560,000 members (16 per cent of those accessing services in 2025) receiving full coverage, while dental providers spent roughly an hour a day addressing coverage ambiguities and call centres struggled to meet quality metrics. In response, Health Canada engaged the Office of the Chief Actuary to provide quarterly actuarial forecasts to improve claim payment projections and financial planning.

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• Ottawa must renew mental health and home care funding, health ministers say

  Source: Global News Politics
  Date: 2026-10-02 12:23:46.0
  Tags: [National, Manitoba, Healthcare, Social Services, Seniors, Finance]

  Provincial and territorial health ministers from across Canada are raising concerns over the impending expiration of $1.2 billion in dedicated federal funding agreements for mental health, addictions, and home care set to sunset in March 2027. The funding stems from a broader $200 billion 10-year health care funding pledge made in the 2023 federal budget, which included $4.8 billion targeted specifically for home care, community care, and mental health services over four years. Officials, including Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara and Canadian Mental Health Association president Marion Cooper, warn that failing to renew these targeted agreements will result in a fiscal cliff, leading to reduced community services and job losses in the health sector.

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• Ottawa Commits Additional Funding for Federal Child Care Program in Ontario

  Source: Ontario - Ministry of Education
  Date: 2026-09-29 14:34:00.0
  Tags: [Ontario, National, Education, Social Services, Affordability, Finance]

  Ontario Minister of Education Paul Calandra announced that the federal government has extended additional funding to the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care program, maintaining current average child care fees at $19 a day with maximum caps at $22 per day until June 30, 2027. Between the 2021-22 and 2026-27 fiscal years, Ontario is investing approximately $34.5 billion in child care and early years programs, which includes $12.3 billion dedicated specifically to child care programs, fee subsidies, wage enhancements, EarlyON Child and Family Centres, and the CARE tax credit. Both governments have committed to ongoing discussions regarding long-term program sustainability beyond June 2027 to ensure continued stability for families and the child care sector.

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• CRA still owed over $5B in COVID-19 benefits sent to ineligible recipients

  Source: CBC Politics
  Date: 2026-09-18 19:50:00.0
  Tags: [National, Taxation, Finance, Economy, Social Services]

  The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) reported that as of July 31, Canadians still owe $5.56 billion in outstanding debt for COVID-19 pandemic benefits—specifically under the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) and Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB)—after being deemed ineligible. The total debt has nearly halved from over $10 billion reported the previous November, with approximately $3.671 billion successfully recovered since collections began in 2022. The remaining balance includes $2.91 billion for CERB and $1.81 billion for CRB, though figures continue to fluctuate due to ongoing repayments, reassessed eligibility, and write-offs for permanent financial hardship recommended to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The CRA maintains a flexible collection approach with extended timelines and interest-free repayment arrangements, while retaining the right to pursue legal action against debtors with the verified ability to pay.

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• New funding commitment from territory isn’t enough to fill gap left by Jordan’s Principle, say educators

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-04 11:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Education, Social Services, Indigenous, Finance]

  The Northwest Territories Department of Education committed $35 million per year for at least three years toward inclusive schooling, staff training, and early childhood development. This territorial funding fails to fully offset a nearly $60 million loss in federal Jordan's Principle funding, prompting the Northwest Territories Teachers' Association to warn that schools remain severely underfunded and facing staff shortages. Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland stated that the territory is assessing its funding formula while continuing to advocate for additional federal support.

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• Yellowknife family urges Ottawa to renew support for employment program that helped their son

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-09-02 15:00:00.0
  Tags: [National, Labour, Social Services, Economy, Finance]

  Inclusion Canada and the Autism Alliance of Canada are seeking $50 million in the upcoming federal fall budget to renew funding for the Ready, Willing and Able (RWA) inclusive employment program. The program previously received $30 million from Ottawa in 2022—funding that is set to expire in March—to help Canadians with autism or intellectual disabilities secure employment and assist employers with hiring processes. Since its inception in 2014, the RWA program has helped nearly 6,500 people find jobs nationwide, including over 450 individuals in northern Canada, while engaging approximately 27,000 employers.

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• Q&A | N.W.T. Education minister says she’s still fighting to fill funding gap left by feds

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-08-28 18:04:19.0
  Tags: [National, Education, Indigenous, Finance, Social Services]

  The Government of the Northwest Territories faces a $58.6-million education funding gap following federal policy changes to the Jordan's Principle program, resulting in localized teacher layoffs and staffing shortages, including 13 teaching positions cut in Inuvik alone. In response to the shortfall, Northwest Territories Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland stated that the territorial government has allocated over $45 million in new education funding for the fiscal year, which includes $33 million dedicated to stabilizing inclusive schooling formulas. Territorial officials and education bodies are collaborating to share data and negotiate with federal officials, including Minister responsible for Jordan's Principle Mandy Gull-Masty, to address the funding deficit.

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• NTHSSA reports first budget surplus in 10 years, largely due to staffing vacancies

  Source: Territories - Northern Affairs (Yukon, NWT, Nunavut)
  Date: 2026-08-28 12:38:57.0
  Tags: [National, Healthcare, Finance, Social Services]

  The Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) reported its first budget surplus in 10 years, recording a $4.7 million operating surplus for the 2025/26 fiscal year due to persistent staffing vacancies and one-time federal funding. This surplus reduced the organization's accumulated deficit from $300.8 million down to $296.1 million. The fiscal result was driven by $30 million in additional funding from the Government of the Northwest Territories, $23 million in medical travel recoveries, and federal allotments, even as medical travel costs increased by $21 million. Chief Executive Officer Kim Riles noted that while vacancies contributed to the financial surplus, they drive up costs elsewhere through reliance on casuals, agency staff, and overtime.

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