At the federal election debates on Sept. 22 and Sept. 28, Stephen Harper stated that Conservative government cuts to refugee health care affect only “bogus” refugee claimants. It is shameful that he would make such false statements in light of the current refugee crisis.
Harper’s statements are wrong for several reasons. First, the cuts affect people making their refugee claims, including pregnant women who are denied pre-natal care and diabetes patients who are refused insulin — people whose claims have yet to be decided. How can Harper know that a refugee claimant is “bogus” before the claim is considered by the Immigration and Refugee Board?
Second, the cuts also affect privately sponsored refugees whom community groups have worked hard to bring to Canada.
Finally, the Federal Court of Canada has determined that the cuts made by the Conservative government amounted to cruel and unusual treatment of legitimate refugees and refugee claimants.
The truth about Canada’s refugee health-care program is that it assists refugees and refugee claimants who come to Canada with serious, but often treatable, physical and psychological illnesses. It is a program that reflects the compassion that Canadians have traditionally had for people escaping situations of violence and war.
Harper’s comments suggest that he is so far removed from that kind of Canadian compassion that he cannot even tell the truth about his own government’s record.
Darcy Golden, Tess Acton and Jennifer Smith
Victoria
On behalf of REACH, a committee of concerned Canadians who seek to educate our community about refugee health-care issues
