One thing that's important is that we would not like to see something that adds to the administrative burden. We don't want to be the gatekeepers on determining eligibility and having to chase patients and make them verify. That really comes between the doctor and the patient in the relationship. In terms of the remuneration for the services rendered—I mentioned this earlier—it's not unreasonable to expect that costs be covered and that the person delivering care be able to make a living doing that. We treat as many patients as possible, and we look forward to seeing more.
The other aspect we're hearing about from dentists is something that existed before COVID and certainly has been exacerbated by COVID. There is a shortage of dental staff, and dental staff are highly trained staff. The person who assists the dentist in the office is a highly trained individual with a lot of responsibility, and at any one time in Canada up to a third of dental offices are looking to add at least one person to their staff.
I know that across the health care sector there is a shortage of staff, but it is something that is affecting dentistry. We will do our best to handle the influx of patients, but that is an issue.