Liberals to restore refugee health care within months: Immigration minister
Immigration minister John McCallum says the new government will “expeditiously” reinstate full health care for refugees, a service that suffered drastic cuts under Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.
“I can say that within a matter of months, we will fully restore health care for refugees,” McCallum told CTV’s News Channel Saturday.
It’s a significant step towards providing refugees with the same level of universal health care that all Canadians receive.
McCallum says the reinstatement signals a “compassionate, humane and helpful” approach to refugee health care, a service that was stripped of coverage such as dental work, prosthetics and medication under the Conservatives in 2012 as a way to save taxpayers money.
The cuts sparked outrage from several health groups across the country, and volunteer clinics quickly popped up to bridge the gap in care.
A federal court later called the policy “cruel and unusual” and overturned it, forcing the Conservatives to restore some essential health-care benefits.
McCallum argued that the Liberal approach is a pre-emptive measure that ensures refugees get immediate care rather than having them fill up costly emergency rooms.
“So overall the taxpayer actually pays more money under the [previous] government’s restrictive policy than it would under our policy,” McCallum said.
What about privately sponsored refugees?
The move to reinstate health care for refugees is being lauded by doctors and health care experts who long rallied against the Conservative’s controversial cuts.
“We’re very relieved,” Dr. Philip Berger, co-chair of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care, an advocacy group that challenged the Conservative cutbacks in court.
Liberals to restore refugee health care within months: Immigration minister | CTV News
Immigration minister John McCallum says the new government will “expeditiously” reinstate full health care for refugees, a service that suffered drastic cuts under Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.
“I can say that within a matter of months, we will fully restore health care for refugees,” McCallum told CTV’s News Channel Saturday.
It’s a significant step towards providing refugees with the same level of universal health care that all Canadians receive.
McCallum says the reinstatement signals a “compassionate, humane and helpful” approach to refugee health care, a service that was stripped of coverage such as dental work, prosthetics and medication under the Conservatives in 2012 as a way to save taxpayers money.
The cuts sparked outrage from several health groups across the country, and volunteer clinics quickly popped up to bridge the gap in care.
A federal court later called the policy “cruel and unusual” and overturned it, forcing the Conservatives to restore some essential health-care benefits.
McCallum argued that the Liberal approach is a pre-emptive measure that ensures refugees get immediate care rather than having them fill up costly emergency rooms.
“So overall the taxpayer actually pays more money under the [previous] government’s restrictive policy than it would under our policy,” McCallum said.
What about privately sponsored refugees?
The move to reinstate health care for refugees is being lauded by doctors and health care experts who long rallied against the Conservative’s controversial cuts.
“We’re very relieved,” Dr. Philip Berger, co-chair of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care, an advocacy group that challenged the Conservative cutbacks in court.
Liberals to restore refugee health care within months: Immigration minister | CTV News
