Lynn Tomkins

The new federal budget shows the government's dental-care insurance program is projected to cost more than double what the Liberals originally thought, adding another $7.3 billion over five years.

The federal government is pledging a suite of measures to address affordability issues, including a temporary GST rebate hike, a one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit and the long-awaited first phase of Canada’s national dental care plan.

Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos is confident the federal government will be able to set up its proposed dental-care program by the end of the year.

The clock is ticking for the government to deliver on its ambitious promise to the New Democrats to deliver a dental care program for low- and middle-income uninsured kids by the end of the year, while cost estimates have nearly doubled.