No to the IFHP Refugee Health Cuts
We the community at the North American Refugee Conference are opposed to
proposed cuts to Interim Federal Health, as it penalizes the most vulnerable people in
our society, and will cost more than it saves.
Canada resettled Government Assisted Refugees to Canada as part of obligations
under International humanitarian law. These people will become Canadian Citizens.
We also under obligations to give protection to people facing persecution where refugee
claimants are entitled to a fair hearing with the Immigration Refugee Board. The majority
of refugee claimants get accepted and will become Canadian Citizens.
Why do we penalize the most vulnerable members of our society, future the ones who
are least able to pay?
There is a fallacy that this will save money, when in fact denying people access to
healthcare will only increase costs in the future.
For example:
If we bring in a refugee child who has had an amputation, asking the family to pay 30%
the cost of prosthesis means that the child goes without.
Asking families to pay $4 per prescription means that they will go without, as most
refugee families don’t have enough funds to pay for food and diapers.
Not treating high BP could leave to a stroke, costing the healthcare system much more.
Asking a woman who has been traumatized by sexual violence to pay 30% of the
psychologist fees, means that she will go without therapy. Psycologists have already
indicated that they would not work for 70% of their fees.
This is not a good way to start your life in Canada.
Canada, we can do better than that!
What you can do:
- Sign a petition
- Write to your MP
- Read more about Cuts to IFHP Refugee Health Coverage and Calls to Action (PDF)