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Advocacy

Advocacy and government relations is a critical function in CDHA’s efforts to influence the public policy space with an emphasis on advancing the national impact of the dental hygiene profession and improving access to preventive oral health care for people in Canada.

As a non-partisan organization, our work to communicate with and influence key decision-makers and relevant stakeholders brings forward the vital role and contributions of dental hygienists. The profession can be seen working across practice settings in support of the health and well-being of people in Canada, and the capacity of our health system.

At the federal level, much of CDHA’s advocacy activities and approaches directed at members of Parliament and senators and their staff, other elected or appointed representatives, employees in federal departments and agencies, and other policy stakeholders entail a combination of:

  • positioning our views and policy recommendations in letters, government submissions, statements, and briefs
  • conducting outreach to and meetings with decision-makers and relevant stakeholders
  • participating in public and stakeholder consultations on government and parliamentary studies, programs, and research
  • liaising with senior representatives connected to federal departments, other dental professional associations, administration, research, education, regulation, relevant governing bodies, and others
  • engaging in strategic partnerships and affiliations with relevant stakeholders connected to the broader health system
  • developing and sharing tools and resources to support members and oral health champions speaking with a collective voice
  • monitoring ever-changing political and policy environments to evaluate their impacts on dental hygiene and to identify policy windows aligned with government priorities

CDHA files registrations and reports pertaining to our federal lobbying activities with the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada.

Connect with us at advocacy@cdha.ca.

Visit Your DH Campaign

Visit Your Dental Hygienist Campaign

Given the recent expansion of the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), CDHA is launching a “Visit Your Dental Hygienist” social media campaign highlighting dental hygienists' integral role in delivering preventive and impactful oral health care across Canada that helps keep Canadian communities healthy. Continue reading.

Our Focus

CDHA’s advocacy and government relations work for the dental hygiene profession and people in Canada addresses a range of important issues tied to improving access to preventive oral health care, promoting the importance of oral health for overall health, optimizing Canada’s health workforce capacity, informing government policies and spending, and more. Continue reading.

Resources

Our collection of backgrounders, statements, and articles will help our oral health champions and advocacy targets with understanding CDHA’s insights and recommendations for how governments, health system decision-makers, and relevant stakeholders can contribute to advancing oral health in public policies. Continue reading.

Partners for Impact

In addition to advocating on specific issues related to the dental hygiene profession, CDHA is also actively engaged in strategic partnerships and relationships with several organizations, coalitions, and researchers towards impacting federal policy issues of aligned interest within the broader health sector. Learn more.

CDHA on Parliament Hill

Our annual tradition of heading to Parliament Hill is a cornerstone government relations activity to advocate for a greater focus on preventive oral health care and to generate support from oral health champions. While CDHA undertakes advocacy and government relations activities consistently throughout the year, this one-day lobbying event in Ottawa is an important opportunity for CDHA’s board and staff to inform and educate members of Parliament, senators, and other key political decision-makers. The event also aims to raise the profile of the dental hygiene profession and to build awareness of the issues of importance to CDHA members. Over the years, CDHA’s annual lobby days on Parliament Hill have proven to be a successful event and will continue to be a main priority in our ongoing work. Learn more.