Login / RegisterRefugee health reversal demonstrates Conservatives sometimes back down
A physicians' group is saying that Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney has not proceeded with one of his controversial changes concerning refugees' health.
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Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care has revealed that the federal department's website was altered on June 30. Now, the site says that government-assisted refugees are eligible for supplemental health coverage.
However, self-selecting refugee claimants who arrive on Canadian soil and file their own applications will not have their health care covered by the interim federal health program.
In June, it was widely reported that the feds planned to cut off supplemental benefits to all refugee claimants.
At the time, the Straight posted an online poll concerning some doctors' decision to protest the new rules by disrupting Conservative cabinet ministers' news conferences.
Among more than 800 responses, nearly 90 percent agreed with the doctors' actions.
Public outrage over this issue was fuelled by Dr. Chris Keefer's interruption of Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver's news briefing at Toronto General Hospital on June 22.
Dr. Chris Keefer accuses Joe Oliver of withholding insulin from diabetics.
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