The New Democrats in Ontario pledge to provide free or low-cost dental care for all low and middle-income families if elected next month.

The party's plan will accelerate coverage promised under an enhanced federal program and expand it to include more people.

It also allocates funds to establish low-barrier clinics and deploy mobile dental care buses to remote communities.

Horwath said in an announcement in Toronto: "Going to the dentist costs a lot of money, it’s expensive." "We can make sure that all families can access the dental care they need."

All residents earning less than $90,000 annually who do not have insurance, as well as children, youth, and seniors, will be covered under the New Democratic Party plan by 2023 - accelerating the federal plan by two years.

The New Democratic Party said families in Ontario earning less than $90,000 will pay nothing, and families earning between $90,000 and $200,000 will pay on a sliding scale, not exceeding half the bill.

The party also said the plan will save a family of four $1,240 annually on basic exams and cavity fillings, and if both children need braces, the plan could save them over $13,000.

The New Democratic government will invest $680 million this year to cover the costs of its plan, and once full annual funding flows from the federal government, the Ontario National Development Program will maintain its $380 million annual program.

Horwath said she will discuss the possibility of accelerating provincial plan funding if her party forms the government in June, but she is committed to moving forward with her plan regardless.

She said, "What I am committed to for the people of Ontario is that we will not wait." "Often, these programs take a long time on the federal side to get off the ground, and we don’t think people have that time."

The party said its plan will eventually "align" with the national program once it is established and operational. The NDP has not yet released the full cost of its platform and Horwath did not directly respond when asked on Thursday where the funding for the regional dental program would come from.

But she said it will save the province money in the long run because it will ease pressure on the health system if fewer uninsured people have to turn to emergency rooms for dental care.

The proposal also sets plans to expand dental care infrastructure, allocating $25 million for 70 dental clinics and seven mobile buses that would deliver dental care to rural, remote, and northern communities.

There are also plans to enhance oral health education in schools and the party said it will explore options to provide dental care to children through school programs.