Rollback of refugee health benefits attacked

A government plan to roll back extended health-care benefits for asylum claimants in a bid to save money and deter bogus applicants is grossly unfair to the thousands of legitimate refugees who desperately need the help, opposition MPS said Wednesday.

The comments were made after the government unveiled plans to cut off supplementary services like pharmaceutical care, dentistry, vision care and access to free assistive devices for claimants.

Immigration Minister Jason Kenney argued Canadians don’t get government-funded eye and dental care and neither should refugees. The move, he said, would save the government an estimated $100 million over five years and he hopes it also will deter bogus claimants from taking advantage of Canada’s generosity.

“I just think that it’s strange that we would be giving better health benefits to refugee claimants,” he said, noting two-thirds of them ultimately fail to meet the criteria for refugee status. “This corrects that aberration.” Legitimate claimants will continue to receive access to basic health services as well as medication and immunizations deemed necessary to ensure public health or safety.

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair called the decision “scandalous” and contrary to Canada’s reputation as an open, caring country that welcomes those in distress.

“To start saying you’re going to deprive them of something as fundamental as health care is an indication there’s something very wrong with the values of the Conservatives,” he said.

Interim Liberal Leader Bob Rae added the move will punish those legitimate refugees who arrive in Canada in a “state of desperation” without any money or job prospects.

“I think the government has to realize that for all its rhetoric around this issue, there are people who come to Canada with legitimate claims of being refugees,” he said.

The government said the cost of the Interim Federal Health Plan, which offers temporary health coverage to refugee claimants, protected persons and others who don’t qualify under provincial plans, ballooned to $84.6 million in 2010-2011 from $48.3 million in 2006-2007. In 2009-2010, the program cost $91.1 million.

The changes are poised to take effect on June 30 and will apply to all current beneficiaries, as well as those who apply after that date.

It’s strange that we would be giving better health benefits to refugee claimants.

JASON KENNEY