2013:01EI HEALTH CARE FOR REFUGEES
Whereas 1 before June 30, 2012 the Interim Federal Health Program provided temporary basic health-care coverage for refugees, as well as coverage for supplemental health-care services; and
Whereas 2 on June 30, 2012 a reformed program was implemented which reduced the health care coverage for rejected refugee claimants and refugee claimants from Designated Countries, to services or products that protect public health or public safety; and
Whereas 3 under the new rules, coverage for supplemental benefits for all refugees has ended; and
Whereas 4 federal government cuts have resulted in downloading the costs of refugee health care to provinces which is predicted to increase hospital emergency room visits; and
Whereas 5 on February 25, 2013, Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers along with three individual patients asked the Federal Courts to declare that federal government health cuts to refugee claimants as unconstitutional and illegal; therefore be it
Resolved 1 that the National Council of Women of Canada adopt as policy that all refugees be given basic health care coverage as well as coverage for supplemental health care services; and be it further
Resolved 2 that the National Council of Women of Canada urge the Government of Canada to restore basic health-care coverage for all refugees as well as coverage for supplemental health care services.