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Access to health care services for refugee claimants

Resolution number
9
Whereas
  1. Health service is a right in Canada;
  2. Eligibility to the new Interim Federal Health Programme will be based on response of refugee claimants at points of entry and inland immigration offices to the question: "will you be able to cover any medical costs you may incur while your claim is being processed?";
  3. The claimant will be intimidated and scared to answer "no" for fear that this would jeopardize their claim;
  4. The claimant will be required to sign a declaration of eligibility (IMM-1442) at the point of entry or inland office;
Therefore be it resolved

That the CCR: 

  1. Urge the Federal Immigration Department to consider the removal of any eligibility criteria to be asked at the point of entry or inland offices at a time when claimants are seeking asylum;
  2. Request that the question of ability to pay for medical costs be removed and that health services be made available unconditionally to all claimants regardless of ability to pay;
  3. Urge the Department of Citizenship and Immigration to remove the mandatory condition that claimants sign the declaration of eligibility.
Working Group
Immigration and Settlement