Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care which disbanded in 2016 has reconstituted itself as a direct result of the appalling changes in treatment of refugees in the United States.  We are adding our voice to the call  from others for the Canadian government to rescind the Safe Third Country Agreement.

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care call on federal government to end Safe Third Country Agreement with the United States
 
Toronto, June 20, 2018 – Shocked and saddened by the horrific stories of American border agents forcibly separating children from their parents seeking political asylum, Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care (CDRC) have come back together to call on the federal government to rescind the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). The CDRC is appalled at the current state of the refugee claimant system in the United States and deeply concerned that Canada risks returning already traumatized individuals back to the United States under the STCA where they risk additional harm.
 
“As physicians who have worked with refugees, we see the tremendous impact on the health of children and adults when families are separated,” said Dr. Meb Rashid, the medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College Hospital. “We have witnessed the torment of parents who, having to flee suddenly, have been forced to leave children behind. We have seen the impact on children who have been removed from their parents. We have also witnessed the trauma that inevitably results from being placed in detention. A policy to tear already traumatized children from their parents seems unimaginable. It means that the United States is not a safe country for those fleeing persecution. "
 
The United States Government has also recently announced that they will no longer provide asylum to those that are fleeing gang violence or domestic violence.   Asylum seekers in the US, fleeing intimate partner violence, will be deported back into the reach of their abusers.  It would be inhumane to send such women to the United States when protection would not be afforded to them within the US refugee determination system.
 
The Canadian Government has been careful not to agitate the Trump administration but this should not be at the expense of some of the most traumatized and vulnerable who present to the Canadian border. As Canadians recognize World Refugee Day, our government must consider what more we can do to support some of the most vulnerable people in the world.
 
 "It is time to withdraw the Safe Third Country Agreement," says Dr. Doug Gruner, Assistant Professor at the University of Ottawa and lead physician of the health task force Refugee613. "This is no longer an issue of geopolitics, but an issue of human rights. It is time for the Liberal government to unequivocally acknowledge that, in its treatment of refugee claimants, the United States is no longer a safe country under the spirit of the agreement. It is time for Canada to take a stand and refuse to be complicit in this cruelty."
 
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For more information please contact:


Christopher Holcroft
Empower Consulting
416-996-0767 
christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca


A final note from the founders of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care
 
Dear colleagues and supporters,
 
When the cuts to the IFH program were announced in April 2012, many of our patients felt that they were quietly going to endure the consequences.  As one government official mentioned, the Conservative government never envisioned that they would have to contend with health care workers uniting nationally to protest this policy.
 
As we approach the April 1 date of reinstating the program, we want to thank everyone from across the country for their work in advocating for refugee patients.  The Conservatives have unintentionally rallied health care workers and have given us a strong and credible voice to speak out for refugees who are unable to do so themselves. We have been privileged to work with incredible medical students, residents, clinicians and researchers on this issue. We have been amazed at the diligence, discipline, resourcefulness and commitment of so many people across this country. 
 
Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care have concluding its campaign. We will keep this website active as a resource but will not be maintaining it.
 
It has been a privilege to get to know so many people better over the last few years and it is an honor to be a small part of such an incredible group of health care workers.
 
Philip Berger, Meb Rashid, and Doug Gruner
Co - Founders CDRC


A great day for refugee health care: Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care cheers Liberal government announcement restoring the Interim Federal Health Program
 
Toronto, February 18, 2016 – Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care welcomes, with gratitude, the federal Liberal government’s announcement today on the Interim Federal Health Program (IFH). Fully restoring the previous Conservative government’s cuts – called “cruel and unusual” by the Federal Court of Canada – is excellent news for these vulnerable families and their health care providers.
 
This is a tremendous end to a four year grassroots campaign to restore fairness, compassion, and reason to refugee health policy in Canada. Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care wishes to thank the many physicians and health care workers, the 20 national health organizations that endorsed our campaign, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and all those Canadians who have offered support and provided countless hours of volunteer time to this issue. We wish also to thank the Liberal government, including Ministers McCallum and Philpott who have resolutely committed to restoring important health coverage for refugees, and all those Liberal and New Democratic Party MPs who advocated on this issue.
​
It is a proud day to be Canadian.
 
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For more information please contact:
Christopher Holcroft
Empower Consulting
416-996-0767
christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca


Campaign update  

As previously noted, Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care is encouraged by the number of positive moves made by the federal government towards fully restoring the IFH program for refugees, including the decision to drop the appeal of the Federal Court of Canada ruling and the decision to provide medically necessary health care services to all categories of refugees from Syria. While we await the final steps in this process, we will maintain our campaign but will not be updating this website or our social media channels on a regular basis.   

We encourage you to direct questions on all aspects of refugee health care to the appropriate government, health institution, or settlement agency as appropriate.   

Thank you for your ongoing support.  

Dr. Philip Berger and Dr. Meb Rashid – founding Co-Chairs, Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care

​
For immediate release
Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care cheers Liberal government announcement on refugee health care
 
Toronto, December 16, 2015 – Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care welcomes, with gratitude, the federal Liberal government’s announcement today on the Interim Federal Health Program (IFH). Dropping the previous Conservative government’s reckless appeal of the Federal Court of Canada decision declaring cuts to health care services for refugees as “cruel and unusual” is excellent news for these vulnerable families and their health care providers.
 
"The dropping of the appeal is the final refutation of the former government's attack on refugees and represents a vindication of Canadian doctors' nearly four year protest against the Conservatives' belligerence and hostility to refugees and their supporters," said Dr. Philip Berger, Medical Director, Inner City Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital and Co-Chair of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care. “It is a good day.”
 
The government is also providing health coverage for Syrian refugees who were not covered under the Temporary Health Program that was in place while the government appealed. Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care also welcomes a review of the IFH program to stabilize and modernize it for the future. The organization remains willing to consult with the government during this process.
 
“The Federal Court's decision now stands as a landmark manifesto which totally rejects stereotypes of refugees and casts aside the former Conservative Government's portrayal of refugees as cheats undeserving of health care instead of people fleeing war and death and in need of our help”, said Dr. Meb Rashid, medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College Hospital and Co-Chair of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care."
 
Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care wishes to thank the many physicians, health care workers, and other Canadians who have offered support and provided countless hours of volunteer time to this issue. We wish also to thank the Liberal government, including Ministers McCallum and Philpott who have resolutely committed to restoring important health coverage for refugees. It is a proud day to be Canadian.
 
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For more information please contact:
Christopher Holcroft
Empower Consulting
416-996-0767
christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca


​For immediate release
The fight against federal Conservative cuts to refugee health care to make election debut  
Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care to hold information pickets, visit Conservative candidate campaign offices to seek commitments to end the cruel and costly cuts
 
Toronto, October 1st, 2015 – Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care is holding a National Week of Reckoning from October 5th – 10th to call on Conservative candidates to endorse dropping the federal government’s costly court appeal and rescinding the “cruel and usual” cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFH) before voters go to the polls October 19th. To date, the Conservatives are the only major national policy not to commit to restoring health coverage for refugees.

In spite of the 2014 Federal Court of Canada decision declaring the cuts unconstitutional, the Conservative government continues to argue that denying necessary health care to refugees including children and pregnant women is good policy. In fact, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has, on several occasions recently, inaccurately described the scope of his government’s cuts to refugee health care.

"You can give Prime Minister Stephen Harper the benefit of doubt the first time he misinformed Canadians on the consequences of the cuts to refugee health care, but the huge outcry from interested and informed parties and in the press should have caused him to correct his statements,” said Dr. Philip Berger, Medical Director, Inner City Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital and Co-Chair of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care. “The Prime Minister of Canada has continued to repeat the same untruths and we can only conclude that he is deliberately deceiving the Canadian electorate."

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care has documented many examples of refugees being denied important public health care services. The cuts have also resulted in increased costs to local hospitals and provincial governments while sowing confusion within the health care system. The federal government is also spending more than $1 million (and counting) fighting to preserve the cuts, including its court appeal. Even after the government was forced to implement a temporary health program for refugees in response to the Federal Court decision, privately sponsored refugees over 18, including individuals from Syria, are still being denied coverage, including for prescription drugs, psychiatric care, and prosthetic limbs.

Canadians Doctors for Refugee Care’s repeated requests to meet with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to share our evidence and discuss potential policy resolutions have been denied. Senior members of the government and their staff’s only response have been to personally attack health workers. The organization plans to join with its colleagues in the health care community to offer Conservative candidates one last opportunity before Election Day to do the right thing and commit to restoring health care services to refugees.
 
"The Conservative Government has failed to answer multiple requests for a meeting from the leadership of 20 national health organizations who oppose the cuts, showing a measure of contempt to the health professions rarely seen in Canadian history," said Dr. Meb Rashid, medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College Hospital and Co-Chair of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care.
 
Please visit for details on local events.
 
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For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
 
Christopher Holcroft
Principal, Empower Consulting
416-996-0767
christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca


September 19, 2015

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care responds to Minister Alexander’s statement and corrects the record on Prime Minister Harper’s comments on refugee health care

It's nice that the federal Conservative government will continue with the routine medical examinations for refugees – examinations that are only for public health purposes, not for the well-being of refugees. It is not so nice that the Privately Sponsored Refugees upon arrival to Canada will receive no coverage for life saving medications, no urgent mental health care for traumatized children, and no prostheses, wheelchairs, and therapy for war related amputations and injuries. The Conservative government is abandoning PSRs once they arrive, leaving it to sponsoring Canadians to pick up health costs previously covered by the Government.
 
Minister Alexander’s failure to restore health coverage for these refugees follows Prime Minister Harper’s erroneous comments during the Leaders’ Debate (and repeated the next day) on the scope of his government’s cuts to refugee health care. Prime Minister Harper said "the only time we've removed it (health care) is where we have clearly bogus refugee claimants who have been refused and turned down," and that "we do not offer them a better health care plan than the ordinary Canadian can receive."

The Prime Minister’s misrepresentation of this issue is breathtaking and his declaration is simply untrue. Under the Federal Conservative cuts to refugee health care, refugee claimants from Designated Countries of Origin or so called safe countries (for example the Roma in Hungary) were denied all usual  health coverage before they even had their refugee determination hearing. All refugee claimants lost coverage for medication, vision and dental care and for prostheses necessary for amputated limbs. No refugee claimant ever received more health care coverage than Canadians receiving social assistance. This was all confirmed in the July, 2014 ruling of the Federal Court of Canada which found the cuts unconstitutional and “cruel and unusual treatment” – a decision to which the federal government still has not fully complied.

Further, Prime Minister Harper’s conclusion that policy is something that both new and "existing and old-stock Canadians agree with" is unbecoming of any political leader and has no place in the national discourse about refugees.

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care will be holding a “National Week of Reckoning” from October 5th – 9th in cities across the country to call for an end to the refugee health cuts.

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For more information please contact:

Christopher Holcroft
Empower Consulting 
416-996-0767
christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca




Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care joined with health workers in the largest Day of Action yet - events were held in 20 cities and media coverage was extensive (please see our In the News page). Thank you to everyone who participated. Our work leading up to the October federal election continues.

For immediate release

Health professionals hold largest National Day of Action yet to protest refugee health cuts – 20 cities across Canada participating

Organizers call on Conservative government to drop costly court appeal and rescind the cuts

Toronto, June 15, 2015 – Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care is holding its largest National Day of Action yet today calling on the federal Conservative government to rescind once and for all the cruel and costly cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFH). Physicians, nurses, community health workers, and other health professionals along with students and supportive Canadians participated in events in 20 cities across the country, in eight provinces, from coast to coast.

 In spite of the Federal Court of Canada declaring last July that the IFH cuts were “cruel and unusual” and therefore unconstitutional, the government continues to argue that denying necessary health care to refugees including children and pregnant women is good policy. In fact, it was recently revealed that the government is spending $1.4 million (and counting) fighting to preserve the cuts, including through an appeal of the Federal Court decision. While a temporary program provided some coverage to some refugees it failed to fully comply with the Federal Court order. The government’s ongoing intransigence means the fight for a full reversal of the IFH cuts continues.

“Many Canadians will find it appalling to know the Conservative government is spending $1.4 million dollars in legal fees to deny health coverage to a vulnerable population rather than using that money in the most efficient and compassionate manner, which would be to simply provide important health services to refugees,” said Dr. Meb Rashid, medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College Hospital and Co-Chair of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care. “Out of stubbornness or spite, the government is choosing to put divisive politics before the well being of refugees in Canada.”

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care have documented many examples of refugees being denied important public health care services. The cuts have also resulted in increased costs to local hospitals and provincial governments while sowing confusion within the health care system.  More than 20 national health care organizations, all provincial Premiers, legal experts, artists, faith-based groups, student organizations, and other Canadians continue to call for the federal government to reverse the cuts to refugee health.

“Minister Chris Alexander should immediately comply with the Federal court order to restore health coverage to refugees and drop its appeal,” said Dr. Philip Berger, Medical Director, Inner City Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital and Co-Chair of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care. “The Court rejected Minister Alexander's depiction of pregnant women and child refugees as ‘bogus’. An attack on pregnant refugees is an attack on all pregnant women. Canadians from coast to coast know that no child is bogus. It is time for Minister Alexander to get on board with the rest of Canadians."

For a complete list of participating cities please visit .

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For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Christopher Holcroft
Principal, Empower Consulting
416-996-0767
christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca




Open letter to Bono from Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care
Re: meeting with Prime Minister Harper on maternal health and federal government cuts to health care for pregnant women and children refugees

June 14, 2015

Greetings, 

We are three co-founders of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care (CDRC), a non- partisan group of physicians fighting for access to health care for refugees. We admire and appreciate your advocacy work on the subject of maternal health, and would like to make you aware of an urgent, related issue in advance of your meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper on June 15th. In 2012, the federal Conservative government led by Prime Minister Harper cut health care services to thousands of refugees seeking safety in Canada, including pregnant women and children. These cuts are opposed by more than 20 national health care organizations. In spite of repeated requests, CDRC has been refused meetings with senior members of the government to discuss this issue and the evidence we compiled on the effects of the cuts, namely that many refugees are going without necessary care, creating dangerous situations and increased costs to the public health system. In 2014, the Federal Court of Canada found these cuts to be unconstitutional, declaring them “cruel and unusual” and a violation of Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The government is appealing this decision however.

At the time of your meeting with Prime Minister Harper to discuss maternal and child health in developing countries, the CDRC will be holding its 4th National Day of Action with events in 20 Canadian cities calling on the Prime Minister to restore health services to pregnant women and children refugees in this country.

Many refugees come to Canada with little more than the clothes on their back, providing basic, necessary health services to them - especially pregnant women and children – is the responsible thing to do. As you have noted in the past “The world needs more Canada”, and there is something Canada can do about maternal health right now: it can restore the cuts to refugee health care and help people fleeing crisis situations. We respectfully encourage you to raise these issues in your meeting with Prime Minister Harper. We would also be pleased to host you at our National Day of Action event on Parliament Hill in Ottawa between Noon and 1 pm Monday. Thank you for your consideration of this request and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Yours sincerely,
 
Dr. Doug Gruner
Dr. Philip Berger
Dr. Meb Rashid
 
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Media contact:

Christopher Holcroft, Empower Consulting
416.996.0767/ christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca



For immediate release

Health professionals plan largest Day of Action yet to protest refugee health cuts – at least 20 cities across Canada participating on June 15th

Organizers call on Conservative government to drop costly court appeal and rescind the cuts

Toronto, June 9, 2015 – Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care is planning its fourth National Day of Action on June 15th to call on the federal Conservative government to rescind once and for all the cruel and inhumane cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFH). In spite of the Federal Court of Canada declaring last July that the IFH cuts were “cruel and unusual” and therefore unconstitutional, the government continues to argue that denying necessary health care to refugees including children and pregnant women is good policy. In fact, it was recently revealed that the government is spending more than $1 million (and counting) fighting to preserve the cuts, including through an appeal of the Federal Court decision. While a temporary program provided some coverage to some refugees it failed to fully comply with the Federal Court order. The government’s ongoing intransigence means the fight for a full reversal of the IFH cuts continues.

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care have documented many examples of refugees being denied important public health care services. The cuts have also resulted in increased costs to local hospitals and provincial governments while sowing confusion within the health care system.  Physicians, nurses, community health workers, and other health professionals along with students and supportive Canadians will be participating in events in at least 20 cities across the country. While the organization’s repeated requests to meet with the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to share this evidence has been denied, we do expect the Conservative government will be aware of our events – it was recently revealed in media reports that last year’s Day of Action was monitored by the Government Operations Centre.

Please see below for a list of participating cities and visit www.cdrcdayofaction.com for further updates on these and additional events.

National Day of Action events (all times local):

Vancouver – Noon; rally in front of the Immigration and Refugee Board office at Library Square, 300 West Georgia; contact: docs4refugeebc@gmail.com

Victoria – Noon; rally corner of Government and Wharf Streets; contact: reachrefugeehealthcare@gmail.com

Edmonton – Noon; University of Alberta Hospital in the foyer of Bernard Snell Hall; Contact:

Calgary – 10:00 am – 4:00 pm; Information booth in Marlborough Mall; contact: calgaryrefugeehealth@yahoo.ca

Saskatoon – Noon; St. Andrew's College Library, 1121 College Drive; contact:
     
Moose Jaw – 12:15; the corner of Stadacona St. W. and  Main St. N.; contact:

Winnipeg – 11 am; in front of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights; contact:  mbdocs4refugees@mymts.net  

London – Noon; rally at Victoria Park, northwest side near Central and Richmond; contact: london4refugeecare@gmail.com

Kitchener – Noon; rally in front of City Hall, 200 King Street West; contact: kwrefugeehc@gmail.com  

Guelph – 1:00 pm; media event in front of Guelph Community Health Centre, 176 Wyndham Street North; contact: lhasulo@guelphchc.ca

Hamilton – 1:00 pm; rally in front of the regional Citizenship and Immigration office, 55 Bay Street North; contact: hamiltonnoifhcuts@gmail.com

Mississauga – Noon, in front of Mississauga City Hall; contact: mississauga4refugeehc@gmail.com

Brampton – Noon, in front of the Brampton Public Library, Lester B Pearson Theatre, 150 Central Park Drive, contact:

Markham – Noon, in front of the Markham Civic Centre; contact: Markham4refugeecare@gmail.com  


Toronto – Noon; rally in front of the Immigration and Refugee Board, 74 Victoria Street; contact: docs4refugeehc@gmail.com

Kingston –  11 am, Springer Market Square, Kingston, contact: 

Ottawa – Noon; rally on Parliament Hill; contact: ottrefugeehc@gmail.com

Montreal – Noon; Place de la Gare Jean-Talon (métro Parc), Coin Hutchison et Jean-Talon; contact:

Halifax –Noon ; in the Tupper Courtyard, located between the Tupper Building (on College street) and the Clinical Research Centre (5849 University Avenue); contact: halifaxrefugeeclinic@gmail.com

St. John's –  Noon; information booth in the lobby of the Faculty of Medicine,Memorial University; contact: 

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For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Christopher Holcroft
Principal, Empower Consulting
416-996-0767
christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca


Media Advisory

Opponents of refugee health cuts face off with federal government in new court hearing

Toronto, January 26, 2015 – Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care (CDRC) is returning to Federal Court tomorrow along with the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL) and Justice for Children and Youth to ensure the Conservative Government is in full compliance with a judge’s order reinstating health services for refugees. The federal government’s 2012 cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) were deemed unconstitutional – “cruel and unusual” to be precise – by the Court in July. Following a failed effort by the government to have the decision stayed while an appeal is heard, the government announced Temporary measures for the Interim Federal Health Program on November 4th, 2014. However, these measures do not fully restore the level of coverage that was available to refugees before the original cuts.

The IFHP has been marred by red tape and unnecessary complexity for more than two years.  Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and others have documented numerous examples of patients being denied care – including sick children and pregnant women fleeing sexual violence. More than 20 national health care organizations, all provincial Premiers, lawyers, law professors, artists, faith-based groups, student organizations and other Canadians continue to call for the federal government to reverse the cuts to refugee health. The medical associations are also calling on the government to drop its appeal. A Forum opinion poll revealed Canadians are not in favour of providing refugees with less access to health care.

Who: Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care, Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and Justice for Children and Youth

What: Federal Court hearing on new CDRC and CARL motion re: refugee health cuts

When: January 27th, 9:30 am

Where: Courtroom 5C (5th floor), 330 University Avenue, Toronto

Why: To ensure the Conservative government is in full compliance with the November 4th, 2014 Federal Court order

Note: Dr. Meb Rashid and Dr. Philip Berger, co-chairs of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care will be attending the hearing and are available for interview. Lorne Waldman will be available to speak on behalf of the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers.

More information is available at , www.carl-acaadr.ca, and www.jfcy.org.

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For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Christopher Holcroft
Principal, Empower Consulting
416-996-0767
Christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca




For immediate release


Conservative Government still undermining refugee health care: goes behind closed doors to retroactively end IFH Program
Troubling move raises doubts over long-term commitment to follow court decision

Toronto, December 4, 2014 – The federal Conservative government is continuing to undermine health care coverage for refugees. Its most recent move was a Cabinet decision, made behind closed doors, to repeal the 1957 Order in Council establishing the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP).  The government made its decision retroactively to June 30, 2012, the day the government’s “cruel and unusual” cuts to refugee health care – since declared unconstitutional by the Federal Court – took effect.  

This new Order in Council was introduced on November 6th, just two days after the government was compelled by the court to reinstate health care for refugees. Late on November 4th, the government announced Temporary measures for the Interim Federal Health Program. These measures do not fully restore the level of coverage that was available to refugees before the original cuts. Now this latest development casts doubt on Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander and the Conservative government’s long-term commitment to following the court order and providing necessary health services for refugees.

“We are surprised and troubled that the government would quietly abolish a health program that had worked so well for more than half a century,” said Dr. Meb Rashid, medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College Hospital. “When the Minister should be working to respect the court order and reestablish health services for refugees, he is instead offering partial measures with one hand and wiping away long-standing policy commitments with the other. How can we trust anything Minister Alexander says?”

Following the July 4th Federal Court ruling the Conservative government waited to the last minute to announce an appeal of this decision. It also requested to suspend the decision while the appeal was heard. The Federal Court of Appeal denied the government’s request, ruling that “the harm of continuing to deny refugees health care pending the resolution of the government’s lengthy appeal was greater than the inconvenience of requiring the government to reinstate the IFHP”. Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care, Justice for Children and Youth, and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers will fight the federal government’s costly appeal of the Federal Court decision.

“This government refuses to take no for an answer and is prepared to let people suffer for its obstinacy”, said Lorne Waldman, founding member of CARL and lead counsel on the case. “First, the government chose to prolong the uncertainty and cost taxpayer dollars with an unnecessary appeal of the Federal Court decision. Next, it introduced an inadequate response to the decision that leaves some refugees previously covered by the IFHP without important health services. Now, it has made the original IFHP disappear with a wave of a pen in a closed door meeting. This is not just cynical governing, it is reckless.”

The IFHP has been marred by red tape and unnecessary complexity for more than two years.  Since the changes were announced in June, 2012, Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and others have documented numerous examples of patients being denied care – including sick children and pregnant women fleeing sexual violence. The recent Order in Council is sowing more confusion for frontline health care workers and anxiety for sick and vulnerable refugees.

“Minister Chris Alexander and the Conservative government are continuing their reckless conduct rather than acting responsibly on a serious public policy issue and respecting a court order,” said Dr. Philip Berger, founding member of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and Medical Director, Inner City Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital. “Every move this government has made on the refugee health file has been spurious, vindictive, or sneaky. It is time for Minister Alexander to come clean, stop playing games, and do as he was ordered by the court. Cruelty is costly.”

More than 20 national health care organizations, all provincial Premiers, lawyers, law professors, artists, faith-based groups, student organizations and other Canadians continue to call for the federal government to reverse the cuts to refugee health. A recent Forum opinion poll revealed Canadians are not in favour of providing refugees with less access to health care. 

More information is available at , www.carl-acaadr.ca, and www.jfcy.org.

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For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:
Christopher Holcroft
Principal, Empower Consulting
416-996-0767
Christopherholcroft@hotmail.com  



For immediate release

Twelve national medical associations join call for Conservative government to drop reckless appeal of refugee health ruling

Toronto, October 20, 2014 – Twelve national medical associations including the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, the Canadian Pediatric Society and the College of Family Physicians of Canada are joining Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care in calling on the Conservative government to drop its appeal of the Federal Court’s ruling on refugee health cuts.

On July 4, Justice Mactavish of the Federal Court ruled that the cuts were “cruel and unusual treatment” and thus a violation of s. 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  The court also ruled that the health cuts breached the Charter’s s.15 equality guarantee. The government only recently, and at the very last minute, filed an appeal of the decision. It is also seeking a stay of the decision, arguments on which are expected to be heard later this month. Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care (CDRC), the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL), and Justice for Children and Youth (JFCY), all parties to the original court action, will be vigorously opposing both the stay and the appeal.

“There continues to be unprecedented, near unanimous opposition in the medical community to the Conservative government’s cuts to refugee health care,” said Dr. Meb Rashid, founding member of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College Hospital. “The Court decision is very clear and persuasively made the fact-based arguments frontline health workers have been making for over two years. It’s time for the government to listen.”

Among the concerns expressed by the medical associations over the government’s appeal was the continued harm to refugees, the potential threat to public health and safety, and the increasing costs to taxpayers. In his organization’s letter to the Minister, CMA President Dr. Chris Simpson said the cuts have had “significant deleterious effects on the health of refugees”.

Since the government made changes to the IFHP in 2012, Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and others have documented numerous examples of patients being denied care – including sick children and pregnant women fleeing sexual violence.

"The Minister’s reckless rhetoric on his government’s health cuts and their impact on vulnerable families are no longer fooling anyone,” said Dr. Philip Berger, founding member of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and Medical Director, Inner City Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital.  “The Minister should know when you are in a hole, you stop digging. He should drop the appeal and reverse the cuts now.”

The complete list of organizations that have written Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander are:

Canadian Medical Association
Canadian Federation of Nurses’ Unions
The Public Health Physicians of Canada
Canadian Nurses Association
College of Family Physicians of Canada
Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians
Canadian Psychiatric Association
Canadian Federation of Medical Students
Canadian Doctors for Medicare
Canadian Pediatric Society
Canadian Society of Internal Medicine
Canadian Association of Community Health Centres  


 The Department of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto has also submitted a letter.

These health care organizations are among a large number of national associations, provincial Premiers, legal experts, artists, faith-based groups, student organizations, and other Canadians that continue to call on the federal government to reverse the cuts to refugee health. In addition, a recent Forum opinion poll revealed Canadians are in favour of providing refugees with greater access to health care, not less.

More information is available on our website at .

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For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Christopher Holcroft
Principal, Empower Consulting
416-996-0767
Christopherholcroft@hotmail.com  




For immediate release

Conservative Government’s last minute appeal of Federal Court ruling on refugee health cuts prolongs unnecessary suffering

Toronto, ON – October 1, 2014 – At the very last legal minute, the Conservative Government has appealed the Federal Court decision on refugee health care to the Federal Court of Appeal. Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care (CDRC), the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL), and Justice for Children and Youth (JFCY), all parties to the original court action, denounced the government’s decision today as cynical and irresponsible.

"It's another sad day for refugees”, said Dr. Philip Berger, founding member of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and Medical Director, Inner City Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital.  “The Conservative Government is recklessly choosing to let vulnerable people, including pregnant women and ill children, suffer rather than accept the very clear and comprehensive decision of the court".

On July 4, Justice Mactavish of the Federal Court ruled that the federal cabinet’s cuts to refugee health care were “cruel and unusual treatment” and thus a violation of s. 12 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.  The court also ruled that the health cuts were inequitable and discriminatory, and therefore breached the Charter’s s.15 equality guarantee.

“The government is in denial”, added Lorne Waldman, President of CARL and lead counsel on the case. “The factual conclusions of the court were clear: before the cuts, refugees received no more than basic health care; secondly,  the cuts applied to all refugees save Government Assisted Refugees, not only fraudulent claims, as the government alleged; finally, the cuts put lives at risk. The government’s bafflegab about cutting health care to keep fraudulent refugees out of Canada, was exactly that – bafflegab. It was a smokescreen for a wrong-headed policy and the Federal Court shot it down.”

This latest government action is particularly curious given a recent Forum opinion poll revealed Canadians are not in favour of providing refugees with less access to health care. 

Mitchell Goldberg, Vice-president of CARL called the government’s decision to appeal shockingly cynical.  “They know the health cuts put lives at risk. Rather than reinstating the refugee health program, they delayed their appeal to the last minute. What part of ‘lives at risk’ do they not understand?”

The government has also asked the Court of Appeal to stay the court order until the appeal is decided which means many more months where refugees continue to be denied health care.  The group plans to vigorously oppose the government’s stay motion, as well as its appeal.  

“The government knows it is wrong on this issue” said Dr. Meb Rashid, founding member of Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College Hospital. “More than 20 national health organizations and every provincial health minister representing various political parties have called on the government to reverse their dangerous cuts. What will it take for the Conservative Government to listen?”

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For further information contact: 

Lorne Waldman (CARL): 416.254.4590 | lorne@lornewaldman.ca 

Mitchell Goldberg (CARL en français): 514.844.7528 | mitchell.goldberg@gmail.com 

Christopher Holcroft (CDRC): 416.996.0767 | Chris_Holcroft@yahoo.com 

Emily Chan (JFCY): 416-920-1633 | chane@lao.on.ca





PRESS RELEASE: Federal Court Strikes Down Refugee Health Cuts

For Immediate Release | July 4, 2014

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care (CDRC), the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers (CARL), and Justice for Children and Youth (JFCY) welcome the Federal Court judgment released today in CDRC CARL, JFCY, Rodrigues and Ayubi v. Canada

http://cas-ncr-nter03.cas-satj.gc.ca/rss/Bulletin%20T-356-13%20Cdn%20doctors%20july-04-2014%20ENG.pdf. The decision declares the federal government cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) unlawful and unconstitutional. The cuts are not merely wrong, they constitute cruel and unusual treatment, and outrage standards of decency and shock the conscience of Canadians.

The IFHP has been in existence since 1957 and is administered by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The program previously paid for basic health care for refugee claimants until they left Canada or became eligible for provincial health care. Without notice or consultation, the federal government abolished the program in June 2012, and replaced it with a program that denies basic, emergency, and life-saving medical care to thousands of refugee claimants who have lawfully sought Canada’s protection. Even where provinces such as Ontario have attempted to fill the gap, the federal government persists in obstructing their efforts. CDRC, CARL, and JFCY, together with two individual patients who were severely impacted by the cuts, challenged the legality of the IFHP cuts before the Federal Court of Canada.

"With today’s decision, the Federal Court has recognized that the government’s cuts to refugee health care violate the fundamental rights enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, without any lawful justification", said Lorne Waldman, president of CARL and lead counsel on the case. "This decision gives life to Canada’s commitment to protect refugee rights. It sends a clear message to government that it cannot abdicate its responsibility to meet the most basic health care needs of vulnerable refugees and refugee claimants".

"The impact of the federal Conservative Government’s cuts has been devastating," said Dr. Philip Berger, a founding member of CDRC and Medical Director, Inner City Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital. "For more than two years now, doctors across Canada have seen these cuts place the pregnancies of refugee women at serious risk, cause denial of treatment for sick children, and deprive refugees with cancer of coverage for chemotherapy. We are pleased to see the Federal Court put an end to this unwarranted suffering."

"We applaud the court for recognizing and upholding Canada's commitment to the lives and health of children in our communities; and as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Court has recognized the need to protect and provide for the specialized needs of some of the most vulnerable children in Canada", added Emily Chan, counsel for JFCY.

The Federal Court ruled that the executive intentionally targeted poor and vulnerable refugees and refugee claimants "for the express purpose of inflicting predictable and preventable physical and psychological suffering on many of those seeking the protection of Canada (para. 587). Noting that the "cruelty of the 2012 changes to the IFHP is not limited to children" (para. 670), the judge nevertheless specifically highlighted the impact of the cuts on children, noting that the government’s actions "potentially jeopardize the health, and indeed the very lives, of these innocent and vulnerable children

in a manner that shocks the conscience and outrages our standards of decency They violate section 12 of the Charter" (para. 1080). The Court also emphasized that there is "no reliable evidence before this court" that the cuts to the IFHP would result in predicted cost savings to the federal government. To the contrary, there was evidence that some of the cost of medical services previously covered under the IFHP "has now simply been downloaded to the provinces" (para. 1012).

"This decision is a victory for human rights, for human dignity, and for compassion", said Audrey Macklin, Professor and Chair in Human Rights Law at the University of Toronto, and executive member of CARL. "The decision makes clear that a government cannot deliberately subject human beings to physical and emotional suffering as a means of punishing them for seeking refugee protection. Asking for refugee protection is not a crime. Today’s judgment is consistent with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Canada’s international legal commitments, and the values that make us proud to be Canadian."

For further information contact:

Justice for Children and Youth

Emily Chan (JFCY): 416-920-1633 | chane@lao.on.ca

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care

Christopher Holcroft (CDRC): 416.996.0767 | Chris_Holcroft@yahoo.com

Philip Berger (CDRC): 647.896.1911 | BergerP@smh.ca

Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers

Mitchell Goldberg (CARL en français): 514.844.7528 | mitchell.goldberg@gmail.com

Audrey Macklin (CARL): 647.403.5170 | audrey.macklin@utoronto.ca

Lorne Waldman (CARL): 416.254.4590 | lorne@lornewaldman.ca

























Join us for a National Day of Action on June 16th, 2014

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care invites you to join us on June 16th for the third National Day of Action. It is an opportunity to show the Federal Government that Canadians will stand up for the most vulnerable among us. 

Please see below for a list of participating cities and please check back frequently for more details as well as contact information for an event in your city.

Victoria –  4pm at the corner of Douglas Street and Fort Street – contact: reachrefugeehealthcare(AT)gmail.com

Vancouver – Noon; In front of the Immigration and Refugee Board office at Library Square, 300 West Georgia.

Calgary –  Poster campaign, University of Calgary; contact - calgaryrefugeehealth(AT)yahoo.ca

Edmonton - 1pm Rally at the Alberta Legislature – contact: elkhalid(AT)ualberta.ca

Saskatoon – Noon; gathering at the bandshell in Kiwanis Park, then marching across the University Bridge to the Royal University Hospital – contact: saskrefugeehc(AT)gmail.com

Winnipeg – 11am Walk with Refugees followed by rally at 12:30 – Central Park; contact:jimmair(AT)shaw.ca

Kitchener – Noon; in front of Kitchener City Hall – 200 King Street West – contact: kwrefugeehc(AT)gmail.com

Guelph – 1:00 p.m. in front of  Guelph City Hall, 1 Carden Street – contact: Fuerza.Puwersa(AT)gmail.com

Hamilton – 1:00 pm; in front of the regional Citizenship and Immigration office, 55 Bay Street North – contact: hamiltonnoifhcuts(AT)gmail.com

Toronto – Noon; in front of the Immigration and Refugee Board, 74 Victoria Street - contact: docs4refugeehc(AT)gmail.com

London – Noon at Victoria Park (Northwest side near Central and Richmond) – contact: london4refugeecare(AT)gmail.com.

Mississauga – Noon at City Hall, 300 City Centre Drive – contact: mississauga4refugeehc(AT)gmail.com

Kingston – Noon; Springer Market Square – contact: eva_purkey(AT)yahoo.com

Ottawa – Noon; on Parliament Hill – contact: ottrefugeehc(AT)gmail.com

Montreal – Noon; Complex Guy-Favreau

Halifax – TBD - contact: halifaxrefugeeclinic(AT)gmail.com

St. John’s - Information session – 5:00 – 6:00pm;  Auditorium, Faculty of Medicine, Heath Sciences Centre, Memorial University; – contact: Kate.duff(AT)med.mun.ca



For more information and for media inquiries please contact: Christopher Holcroft at chris_holcroft@yahoo.com/ 416-996-0767









For immediate release

Federal Government sabotaging efforts to provide care for refugees under Ontario Temporary Health Program

Latest callous actions spur plans for 3rd National Day of Action June 16th

Toronto, April 22, 2014 – Unnecessary federal government red tape is preventing refugees from receiving health services in Ontario, even though the provincial government has assumed responsibility for care Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care (CDRC) said today. Physicians across the province are reporting long and gratuitous delays to determine eligibility and to receive reimbursement for health services that the Ontario Government has committed to covering, and the federal government used to pay for. This latest phase of federal stubbornness is part of an ongoing Conservative Government project to create barriers to care for refugees and general confusion for health workers.

“The federal Conservative government will do just about anything to deny treatment to bone fide refugee claimants who are pregnant or who are sick children,” said Dr. Philip Berger, Medical Director, Inner City Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital. “Now they are using bureaucratic techniques to slow down the process of health care coverage for refugees in Ontario.”

In 2012, the federal government made cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) that has had a devastating impact on some refugees. The CDRC has documented numerous examples of refugee patients who have been denied care – including ill children, pregnant women, and seniors with heart conditions – as a result of the IFHP cuts.

In January of this year, the provincial government introduced the Ontario Temporary Health Program (OTHP) to “provide access to essential and urgent health care, as well as medications coverage to refugee claimants living in Ontario, regardless of the status of their claim or the country they are from.”

Under the current process, Ontario hospitals and doctors must submit billing claims for refugee patients to Blue Cross, the government’s health insurance company to determine eligibility under the IFHP and receive payment. This process usually takes at least four weeks. If the claim is rejected, it is sent back to the billing hospital or doctor who must then resubmit the same billing claim, to the same insurance company, for the same service but directed to the OTHP branch of Blue Cross. The Conservative Government has prohibited Blue Cross staff from walking down the hall and transferring the rejected claim to the OTHP. More work is created for hospital and administrative staff, more taxpayer funds are being spent on federal Government mandated Blue Cross inefficiency, and confidence in OTHP is being eroded by the federal Government’s interference in a provincial program.

Frustrated by the government’s latest actions and encouraged by continuing support from health workers and other Canadians across the country, CDRC is organizing a third National Day of Action on June 16th.

 “Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care finds it deeply disturbing, even vindictive, that the federal Conservative government is trying to sabotage an Ontario program that was particularly directed to pregnant women , sick children and those with life threatening illnesses” said Dr. Meb Rashid, medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College Hospital. “We reiterate our call for Minister Chris Alexander to come to the table and have a rational discussion with health workers about fixing the government’s policy.”

More than 20 national health care organizations, all provincial Premiers, legal experts, artists, faith-based groups, student organizations and other Canadians continue to call for the federal government to reverse the cuts to refugee health. The CDRC has joined with the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers in challenging the federal government’s cuts in Federal Court.

The CDRC will continue to advocate for access to health services for refugees and against the IFHP cuts.  More information and updates are available on our website at . 

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For more information:

Christopher Holcroft

Principal, Empower Consulting

416-996-0767

Chris_Holcroft@yahoo.com




Breaking News - Canadian Doctors For Refugee Care to hold 3rd National Day of Action on June 16th

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care will be holding a third National Day of Action on June 16th. Events are being organized across the country. Already, 10 cities are on board - Montreal, Ottawa, Hamilton, London, Winnipeg, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver - with more to come. Please join us to show your continued opposition to the federal government's cuts to refugee health care and continue to check this website for detailed information on events in your city. See you on June 16th!




January 27, 2014

For immediate release

Tired of bogus tirades, Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care challenge Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to a public debate

Doctors fear federal intransigence could lead to “tragic consequences”

Toronto, January 27, 2014 – Fed up with the continuous stream of federal government misinformation on refugee health policy and Minister Alexander’s repeated attacks on government critics, Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care is challenging Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander to a public debate. The Minister can choose the time and location of such a debate.

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care has never been given an opportunity to meet with senior government officials despite numerous requests.  “All we want is a chance to respectfully and rationally discuss the federal government’s refugee health policy,” said Dr. Meb Rashid, medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College Hospital. “We have witnessed the devastating impact of these cuts on the frontlines and fear the federal government’s ongoing pigheadedness could lead to tragic consequences.”

Among the inaccurate and misleading claims the federal government has made since the cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program were announced in June, 2012 and which the Minister recently repeated in multiple media interviews last week, are:

The federal government has only cut health coverage to “bogus” refugees. Fact: Since the cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program, all refugees except government-assisted refugees have lost access to medication coverage, vision and dental care. People from Designated Countries of Origin have lost all health coverage including for urgent and essential care, except in cases of public health concerns or issues of public security. Some refugee claimants must wait up to four to six weeks for any health care coverage. Therefore to suggest individuals lawfully within our borders and awaiting their hearing, such as a persecuted Roma woman from Hungary or an Afghan woman fleeing  after Taliban death threats or a child arriving from a developing country with an infectious disease, are bogus is simply false.

Taxpayers are saving money with these cuts. Fact: there is no evidence to support this. In fact, what we do know is that in several published reports, public hospitals were facing increased costs as refugee patients were forced to seek treatment in expensive emergency rooms because of the cuts to primary care for refugees. Provincial governments have echoed this reality.

Canadian do not want refugees receiving better health coverage than citizens receive. Fact: Since 1957, the federal government has provided basic health coverage to refugees arriving in Canada, many of whom are among the most vulnerable people in the world. At most, refugees received services equivalent to Canadians on social assistance. Since the federal cuts, people with cancer cannot access chemotherapy, pregnant women are denied prenatal care, and diabetic children are not entitled to insulin medication.  This is not the fair and generous Canada most of us know.

“Minister Alexander ‘s fabrications and the Conservative Government’s persistent misleading of the public must not go unchallenged,” said Dr. Philip Berger, Medical Director, Inner City Health Program at St. Michael’s Hospital. “If the Minister is so confident in the righteousness of his position he will accept our challenge for a public debate and honest discussion based on the facts.”

All provincial Health Ministers have come out against the cuts to the IFHP and more than 20 national health care organizations, legal experts, artists, faith based groups, student organizations and other Canadians continue to call for the federal government to reverse the cuts to refugee health. The CDRC has joined with the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers in challenging the federal government’s cuts in Federal Court.

More information and updates are available on our website at .

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For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Christopher Holcroft

Principal, Empower Consulting

416-996-0767

Chris_Holcroft@yahoo.com




January 6, 2014

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care statement on Ontario Temporary Health Program

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care (CDRC) welcomes the recent decision by the Ontario Government to provide access to important public health care services for refugees, access that used to be provided by the federal government. The CDRC maintains that health coverage for refugees is a federal responsibility; that the Ontario Government is demonstrating compassionate leadership by stepping in to fill gaps in coverage created by the federal government does not excuse this responsibility.

In 2012, the federal government made cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) that has had a devastating impact on some refugees. The cuts have also been proven to be confusing for health workers and costly to hospitals and provincial governments. The CDRC has documented numerous examples of refugee patients who have been denied care – including ill children, pregnant women, and seniors with heart conditions – as a result of the IFHP cuts.

According to the Province, the new Ontario Temporary Health Program (OTHP) will “provide access to essential and urgent health care, as well as medications coverage to refugee claimants living in Ontario, regardless of the status of their claim or the country they are from.”

This is good news for refugees in Ontario. However, it is still critical for the health of refugees – and as a matter of public health policy – that the federal government rescind the cruel and costly cuts to the IFHP.

All provincial Premiers have come out against the cuts to the IFHP and more than 20 national health care organizations, legal experts, artists, faith based groups, student organizations and other Canadians continue to call for the federal government to reverse the cuts to refugee health. The CDRC has joined with the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers in challenging the federal government’s cuts in Federal Court.

The CDRC will continue to advocate for access to health services for refugees and against the IFHP cuts.  




December 17th, 2013

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care are in Federal court today with the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers challenging the legality of the federal cuts to refugee health care. More information on the legal challenge can be found at: http://www.carl-acaadr.ca/articles/61.




November 25, 2013

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care praise by-election candidates who commit to working to reverse the cruel and costly cuts to refugee health care

There are four by-elections being held today with two in Manitoba and one each in Ontario and Quebec. Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care has been using this opportunity to raise the issue of the cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program. As has been documented by CDRC, the Wellesley Institute, and several media outlets, the cuts have had terrible consequences for many refugees, and have increased costs to local hospitals in major centres.

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care took to social media to encourage candidates running for office and voters to oppose the reckless cuts to refugee health. In Toronto Centre, Medical Residents met with candidates from the Green, Liberal, and NDP parties and spoke to the Conservative Party candidate at a community debate. After providing information about the harm created by the cuts to refugee health care, these candidates were asked to sign a pledge opposing the cuts and committing to working in Parliament to assure their reversal.

In advance of voting day, we would like to inform you of the following candidates who have signed our pledge or otherwise committed to working to reverse the cuts.

Terry Hayward, Liberal candidate - Provencher, Manitoba

Natalie Courcelles Beaudry, NDP candidate – Provencher, Manitoba

Cory Szczepanski, NDP candidate – Brandon-Souris, Manitoba

Linda McQuaig, NDP candidate – Toronto Centre

Chrystia Freeland, Liberal candidate – Toronto Centre

John Deverell, Green Party candidate – Toronto Centre

If additional candidates come forward today who commit to opposing the cuts to refugee health, we will add their names to this list.

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care will be taking the same approach to future by-elections and will be preparing a comprehensive candidate engagement strategy for the 2015 federal election.

For more information please contact:

Christopher Holcroft
Empower Consulting, for CDRC
416-996-0767 / Chris_Holcroft@yahoo.com



For immediate release

Pressure building on federal government to reverse course on refugee health cuts as Parliament set to return
New support from provincial health ministers cuts across party lines

Toronto, October 10, 2013 – Provincial health ministers from across Canada – including several Conservatives – have become the latest constituency to voice opposition to federal cuts to refugee health care, putting renewed pressure on the government to reverse course. Pointing to the negative impact of the cuts on vulnerable populations and the bottom line of publicly funded health providers, the ministers join more than 20 national health care organizations, legal experts, artists, faith based groups, student organizations and other Canadians.
 
 “Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care (CDRC) have grave concerns over the federal government’s ongoing intransigence on this issue – and the tragic consequences that could result from it,” said Dr. Meb Rashid, medical director of the Crossroads Clinic at Women's College Hospital. “The cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) have been proven to be confusing, costly, and callous. We urge Parliament to reexamine this issue when the House reconvenes next week and for the government to finally meet with front line health workers.”
 
The federal government has acknowledged, for the first time, at least one fact argued by critics of the refugee health cuts. Responding to the provincial ministers, federal Health Minister Rona Ambrose admitted that the provinces have faced increased costs from the cuts to the IFHP. Yet, despite comprehensive evidence and widespread opposition from many sectors of society, the government refuses to address the obvious flaws associated with its policy. Neither Minister Ambrose, nor Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander, have addressed these flaws.

In the meantime, examples of harm resulting from the IFHP cuts continue to accumulate. The following is a sampling of recent cases Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care has verified:

·        A woman with a history of being sexually assaulted presents with symptoms of a sexually transmitted infection.  She has no health insurance for investigations or treatment as she awaits the initiation of her health insurance.

·        An elderly woman from a Designated Country of Origin (DCO) country with an existing heart condition (previous heart attack) cannot have the appropriate investigations. On a subsequent visit, she has worsening chest pain and has to be sent to the Emergency Room.

·        A three year old child with vomiting has no insurance to see a health care worker because her family comes from a DCO country. 

·        A pregnant woman in her third trimester with DCO coverage is denied prenatal care and
rescued by a midwife collective who agrees to provide care for free.

·        A six year old child has no health insurance to assess or treat her symptoms of a urinary tract infection as her family awaits the initiation of her health insurance.

·        A recent refugee who was repeatedly raped in her country of origin presents with abdominal pain that is likely related to the assaults. The woman cannot receive investigations into her pain until her health coverage has been initiated.

·        A pregnant woman with vaginal discharge has no access to health care as she awaits her health insurance to be initiated.

·        A man with a life-threatening inflammatory disorder fails to show up for follow-up
appointments to his specialist because of limited IFH coverage.

·        A woman followed by an obstetrician for her pregnancy is turned away for care at 36 weeks once she is denied her refugee status.

“The government should be held accountable for their actions and repeated false statements,” said Dr. Philip Berger, Chief of Family and Community Medicine at St. Michael’s Hospital. “The fact is refugees never received ‘gold plated’ health care, just services equivalent to those Canadians on social assistance receive. Now, since the IFHP cuts, people with cancer cannot access chemotherapy, pregnant women are denied prenatal care, and refugees with infectious diseases receive no care for their first 6 weeks in Canada".

 In the absence of a reasoned discussion on the impacts of health cuts on a vulnerable population – CDRC and other health organizations have repeatedly been refused an opportunity to meet with senior government officials – CDRC will be considering additional measures to protect patients and advocate for their care.

More information and updates are available on our website at . 
 
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For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Christopher Holcroft
Principal, Empower Consulting
416-996-0767 
Chris_Holcroft@yahoo.com

Pour diffusion immédiate

La pression monte sur le gouvernement fédéral pour renverser les compressions dans les soins de santé aux réfugiés lorsque le Parlement s’aprête à retourner au travail.
Nouveau soutien des ministres de santé provinciaux implique tous les partis politiques.

Toronto, le 10 Octobre 2013 - Les ministres de la Santé provinciaux à travers le Canada -- y compris plusieurs Conservateurs -- sont devenus la dernière circonscription à exprimer leur opposition aux coupures du gouvernement fédéral aux soins de santé des réfugiés, exerçant une pression renouvelée sur le gouvernement pour renverser la vapeur. Attirant l'attention sur l'impact négatif des réductions sur les populations vulnérables et sur le budget des prestataires de santé financés par l'État, les ministres se joignent à plus de 20 organismes nationaux de la santé, à des juristes, à des artistes, à des groupes confessionnels, à des organisations d'étudiants et à d’autres Canadiens.

" Les Médecins canadiens pour les soins aux réfugiés (MCSR) ont de graves inquiétudes sur l'intransigeance continue du gouvernement fédéral sur cette question -- et les conséquences
tragiques qui pourraient en résulter, " a déclaré le Dr Meb Rashid, directeur médical de la Clinique Crossroads du Women's College Hospital. " Les compressions budgétaires au Programme fédéral de santé intérimaire (PFSI) se sont avérés d’être une source de confusion, coûteuses et impitoyable. Nous exhortons le Parlement à réexaminer cette question lorsque la Chambre reprendra ses travaux la semaine prochaine et pour le gouvernement de finalement rencontrer les travailleurs de la santé de première ligne."

Le gouvernement fédéral a reconnu, pour la première fois, au moins un fait soutenu par les critiques des coupures aux soins des réfugiés. Répondant aux ministres provinciaux, le ministre federal de la Santé, Rona Ambrose, a admis que les provinces ont fait face à une augmentation des coûts à cause des réductions au PFSI.  Pourtant, malgré les preuves compréhensives et l’opposition généralisée de nombreux secteurs de la société, le gouvernement refuse de s'attaquer aux failles évidentes liées à sa politique. Ni la ministre Ambrose, ni le minister de la Citoyenneté et de l'Immigration, Chris Alexander, n’ont abordé ces défauts.

Dans le même temps, des exemples de préjudices résultant des coupures du PFSI continuent de s'accumuler. Ce qui suit est un échantillon de cas récents que les Médecins canadiens pour les soins
aux réfugiés (MCSR) ont vérifiés :

-  Une femme avec histoire d'agression sexuelle se présente avec des symptômes d'une infection transmise sexuellement. Elle n'a pas d'assurance santé pour les investigations ni pour les traitements parce qu’elle attend le commencement de son assurance maladie.

- Une femme âgée d'un pays ‘d'origine désignée’(DCO ) avec une affection cardiaque existante (précédente crise cardiaque ) ne peut pas procéder aux examens appropriés.  Lors d'une visite ultérieure, elle éprouve une aggravation de douleur à la poitrine et doit être envoyée à l’Urgence.

- Un enfant de trois ans avec des vomissements n'a pas d'assurance pour voir un travailleur de santé parce que sa famille vient d'un pays ‘d'origine désignée’ (DCO ). 

- Une femme enceinte à son troisième trimestre avec une couverture DCO (pays ‘d'origine désignée’) se voit refuser les soins prénataux ; elle est sauvée par un collectif de sage-femmes qui accepte de fournir des soins gratuitement.

- Un enfant de six ans n'a pas d'assurance santé pour évaluer ou traiter ses symptômes d'une infection des voies urinaires parce que sa famille attend le commencement de son assurance  maladie.

- Une réfugiée récente qui a été violée à plusieurs reprises dans son pays d'origine se présente avec une  douleur abdominale qui est probablement liée aux agressions. La femme ne peut recevoir des investigations sur sa douleur jusqu'à ce que sa couverture de santé a été lancée.

- Une femme enceinte avec des pertes vaginales n'a pas accès aux soins de santé pendant qu'elle attend le début de sa couverture d’assurance maladie.

- Un homme avec un trouble inflammatoire mortel ne se présente pas aux rendez-vous de suivi chez le spécialiste à cause de la couverture limitée du PFSI.

- Une femme suivie par un obstétricien pour sa grossesse se voit détournée des soins à 36 semaines quand elle est refusée le statut de réfugiée.

«Le gouvernement devrait être tenu responsable de ses actes et de ses fausses déclarations répétées, " a déclaré le Dr Philip Berger, chef de médecine familiale et communautaire à l'Hôpital St. Michael . " Le fait est que les réfugiés n'ont jamais reçu des soins de santé «plaqués or », seulement des services équivalents à ceux auxquels les Canadiens qui reçoivent l'aide sociale ont droit. Maintenant, depuis les coupures du PFSI, personnes atteintes de cancer ne peuvent pas accéder à la chimiothérapie, les femmes enceintes se voient refuser les soins prénataux et les réfugiés souffrant de maladies infectieuses ne reçoivent aucun soin pendant leurs six premières
semaines au Canada."
 
En l'absence d' un débat raisonné sur les impacts des compressions budgetaires de santé sur une population vulnérable -- CCDPH et d'autres organismes de santé ont été à plusieurs reprises refusé une occasion de rencontrer de hauts responsables gouvernementaux -- CCDPH envisagerà des mesures supplémentaires pour protéger les patients et revendiquer leurs droit aux soins de santé.

Plus d'informations et des mises à jour sont disponibles sur notre site web à . 
 
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Pour plus d'informations ou pour organiser une entrevue, veuillez contacter:

Christopher Holcroft
Principal, Empower Consulting
416-996-0767
Chris_Holcroft@yahoo.com


Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care have written the new Minister of Citizenship and Immigration to request a meeting to discuss the cuts to refugee health care.

Your continued support for our efforts to reverse the cuts is appreciated. Please call or write the new Minister at:

The  Honourable Chris Alexander,  P.C., M.P.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 1L1
Telephone: 613-995-8042
Fax: 613-996-1289 
chris.alexander@parl.gc.ca

We also encourage you to call or write to the following MPs:

Hon. Rona Ambrose - Minister of Health - 613-996-9778 / rona.ambrose@parl.gc.ca
NDP immigration critic - Jinny Jogindera Sims - 613-992-0666 / Jinny.Sims@parl.gc.ca
NDP health critic - Libby Davies -  613-992-6030 / libby.davies@parl.gc.ca
Liberal Party immigration critic - Kevin Lamoureux - 613-996-6417/ kevin.lamoureux@parl.gc.ca
Liberal Party health critic - Hedy Fry - 613-992-3213 / hedy.fry@parl.gc.ca

Thank you.


For immediate release 
August 18, 2013 

Statement from Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care on status of member Dr. Tarek Loubani arrested and missing in Egypt

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care is deeply concerned by news that one of its members, prominent London, Ontario emergency physician Dr. Tarek Loubani has been arrested in Egypt and has been out of communication for more than 24 hours. Dr. Loubani was in Egypt providing
volunteer health services and was arrested along with a colleague, York University Professor John Greyson.

Egyptian authorities should be aware of Dr. Loubani’s extensive work providing medical treatment to people in need in the Middle East. He is also well respected in Canada for assisting refugees – including refugees from the Middle East – in securing public health care in this country.

Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care calls on the federal government to pursue immediate consular intervention on behalf of these citizens. We expect the Canadian Medical Association and other professional medical organizations will urgently use their international connections to support efforts to bring Dr. Loubani and Professor Greyson home safely.

Our thoughts are with the families, friends, and colleagues of Dr. Loubani and Professor Greyson.

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For more information please contact:

Christopher Holcroft
Principal, Empower Consulting
416-996-0767
Christopherholcroft@hotmail.ca 


Standing up for refugee health

Thank you for making the second National Day of Action a great success. Please see a selection of the tremendous media coverage here: http://5zt.99ke86.icu/in-the-news.html. You can see a video of the demonstration in Toronto here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogYB_1fYaV0&feature=youtu.be. Our international photo campaign displaying support from around the world, can be viewed on our Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/RefugeeHealthCare.

From  coast to coast, health care workers and other Canadians stood together to call for an end to the federal government's cuts to refugee health care. Until that happens, our campaign continues. Please support us by speaking to your local MP. Contact information for all MPs can be found at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/MembersOfParliament/MainMPsCompleteList.aspx?TimePeriod=Current&Language=E

We would appreciate it if you could please copy us on correspondance to Members of Parliament. Our e-mail address is Docs4refugeeHC@gmail.com. Thank you.


Update - McGill University becomes second university to facilitate learner participation in National Day of Action. Please see http://5zt.99ke86.icu/further-reading-survey.html.

Update - Federal Government adds more countries to DCO list - http://cnw.ca/uVxle 

Update - University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine facilitates learner participation in National Day of Action. Please see http://5zt.99ke86.icu/further-reading-survey.html for more on this unprecedented and welcome move by the university.

Update - Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care announces new National Day of Action being planned for June 17th. Please see http://5zt.99ke86.icu/day-of-action-june-17-2013.html for details.

Update - Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care joins Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers in Charter challenge over federal government cuts to refugee health care. More information here: http://www.refugeelawyersgroup.ca/node/58.

Update - Please see below for important information on the tracking of consequences of the Interim Federal Health Program cuts: Refugee HOMES monitoring tool.

On June 30th, 2012, the federal government made cuts to important health care services for refugees. For example, many refugees living in, Canada will no longer qualify for coverage for necessary medications such as insulin. Some refugee claimants will also be denied access to physicians unless their condition is deemed a threat to public health or safety. Among other health care services to be cut for some or all refugees are: prenatal care for pregnant women, well child care and access to mental health care.

On May 11th, doctors in cities across the country, many of whom treat refugees on a daily basis, organized demonstrations, press conferences and public events to protest these changes. This included a visit to a federal cabinet Minister's office in Toronto by more than 50 physicians. Following an overwhelming positive response from the medical community and public at large, several physicians have come together to launch Doctors for Refugee Care.

On June 18th, more than 2,000 health care workers participated in a National Day of Action to protect refugee health care services - an initiative that was supported by a number of national health care groups.

Late on June 29th, the federal government made partial revisions to its planned cuts that maintained services to some refugees, specifically those who are classified as Government Assisted Refugees. Other groups of refugees however are stil losing important health benefits.

Doctors for Refugee Care believes that:
 
·  Canada’s approach to medically treating refugees should be guided by fairness and sound public health policy; the federal government’s changes meet neither criteria

·  Cutting preventative and primary health care is poor health policy that threatens public safety and increases costs to taxpayers

· The government’s cuts to health services to refugees residing in this country – some of whom will have just escaped war, violence or famine – is unjust and counter to Canada's long history of compassion and openness.


Dear Canadian healthcare provider,

The purpose of Refugee Health Outcome Monitoring and Evaluation System (Refugee HOMES) is to monitor the effects of changes to the Interim Federal Health Program effective from 30 June 2012 on adverse health outcomes experienced by refugees in Canada. The online data submission from can be accessed at:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/66KPGVS

Ou, en français à:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WD9DHMS

This adverse outcome monitoring system relies on accurate and timely information being provided voluntarily by you, the care provider. It is important to both quantify the impact of the changes in coverage and to share the stories of the people affected. Please promptly and without exaggeration or embellishment report all adverse outcomes suffered by refugees that are related to healthcare or medication access.

Details of the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program and the new classification system for refugees based on their country of origin can be found on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website:

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Please complete one form for each independent adverse outcome. You may complete multiple forms for a single patient if the patient has suffered multiple independent adverse outcomes, or if the severity of an adverse outcome has changed significantly (e.g. complete a second form if a patient who was hospitalized for angina suffers a myocardial infarction). Do not complete multiple forms for the same adverse outcome.

The only mandatory field is the contact information of the care provider completing the form. This information may be used to verify the accuracy of information on this form or to obtain additional information about the adverse outcome but it will not be used for any other purpose.


Please do not include any information that would allow individual patients to be identified. Please indicate on the form if you, the patient or a representative of the patient are willing to publicly explain how the patient was affected by the changes to the Interim Federal Health Program.

Any potentially preventable deaths should be both reported using this form and promptly reported to the appropriate coroner or medical examiner.

We will periodically publicize summaries of the adverse outcome data collected across Canada. We will also make periodic updates to this data collection form and we welcome your feedback.

Please notify your colleagues of this important monitoring system by, for example, circulating this letter. Thank you very much for your diligence. 
 
Sincerely,

Refugee HOMES Team