Decision supports refugee health
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(Update)
A battle is brewing between Canadian refugees and the Conservative government. Earlier today the federal courts overturned changes made to health care benefits for newcomers — and the Tories quickly vowed to appeal the decision.
Hodan Ali is Executive Director of Refuge: “We are elated, excited, great news, a victory.”
At first it seemed like they had won. The federal courts ruled today that the Conservative government could not pick and choose which refugees get health care.
Hodan: “We are confident that our system has prevailed and is protecting those most vulnerable.”
In 2012, the Tories cut back health care benefits for new arrivals to Canada who were from countries they deemed to be safe or had claims denied unless they posed a public health threat.
The reasoning was that it would save millions of dollars. But health care workers say the move has taken a human toll.
Hodan: “The social impact has been discrimination based on refugee status. Even those eligible were being turned away because of confusion. Overall, it left a bitter taste.”
And the courts agreed saying it was cruel and unusual treatment and outrages Canadian standards of decency. It gave the government four months to reverse the changes.
This afternoon, Citizenship and Immigration Minister, Chris Alexander said it would appeal the decision. “If we were to go back to giving better health care than normal to people who are often bogus claimants, people who invented their stories of persecution, that would take away from our ability to help genuine refugees.”
Ali says a majority of refugees are genuine: “Most often people are fleeing war, persecution and other forms of trauma in their countries and that’s why they come to Canada because it’s known for being humanitarian.”
It will now be up to the court of appeals to decide.
So, many refugees are in limbo tonight — still no further ahead.
It was a group called the Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care that took the government to court over this. They hailed the ruling and are vowing to keep up the fight.
