9
Volume3 Issue5
|
CDA
at
W
ork
This year’sdiscussions focusedon three key
topics: sugar reduction, changes to the small
business tax rate, and theoral healthcare
of Syrian refugees. All of thesematters also
appear on thenewLiberal government’s
agenda,making themgreat opportunities
tocollaborateonnation-wide initiatives and
policies.
SugarReduction
ThepreviousConservative federal
government hadmade the reductionof
sugar intakeapriorityandhadconsulted
with several organizations, includingCDA,
onhow to improvenutrition labelling
regulations. ToCDA’sgreat relief, sugar
consumption is alsoa topicof concernof
thenewgovernment. “Wearepleased to
see thatwhileanewparty is inoffice, the
significanceof the issue isnot fading,”
saysDr. Randall Croutze, CDAPresident.
Minister ofHealth JanePhilpott’smandate
lettermentions the importanceof
“introducingnew restrictionson the
commercialmarketingof unhealthy
foodandbeverages tochildren” and
of “improving food labels togivemore
informationonadded sugars andartificial
dyes inprocessed foods.”
CDA’smessage resonated stronglywith
parliamentarians, andall of themconfirmed
theywould supportCDA’sposition, including
Bill Casey, chair of theHouseof Commons
StandingCommitteeonHealth.Many
Dayson theHill discussions revolvedaround
thenegative impact of sugar onoverall
health, andonoral health inparticular. “It
was important for us toclearlyunderline for
newMPs thedirect connectionbetween
sugar consumptionand toothdecay,”
explainsDr. TomRaddall, chair of the
CDAAdvocacyCommittee.
Thewinds of
changeblewover
ParliamentHill last
fall, bringing close to
200newmembers
of parliament
(MPs) to theHouse
ofCommons.To
help forgea strong
foundationwith these
new influencers and
inform themof issues
affectingdentistry,
CDAheld its annual
Days on theHill event
onMay10and11.
CDADays on theHill
BUILDINGNEW
BRIDGES
