My 59 Cents

Red and white Canada Day beads - 44¢
Canadian flag pins - 37¢
Patriotic paper plates - 50¢

A year of health care for refugee claimants in Canada - PRICELE--No. Just 59¢. 


On July 1st, Canadians have a lot to celebrate.  We express our gratitude for living in a country in which most of our basic needs are taken care of, and in which we are treated as equals. These ideals converge in the provision of universal health care, which is perhaps the greatest source of national pride for Canadians.

But what many Canadians don't realize is that today, when we should be celebrating our equal rights to health care, the government is refusing to provide full health care coverage for refugee claimants in Canada. This country used to be seen as a safe haven for people escaping violence, famine, and oppression all over the world.  Refugees could come here and receive prescription drugs, prosthetic limbs, dental and vision care, and other essential medical services through the Canadian Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP).  In 2011, 25,000 refugees were living in Canada. But on June 30th, all refugee claimants lost their supplemental benefits, and any refugees coming from countries on the government's so-called "safe" country list were no longer entitled to any health care coverage at all (unless, of course, their condition threatened the rest of our health).

The reason? The government claims that these cuts will save Canada $100 million dollars over five years.  But this is terribly short-sighted economics, and doctors are speaking out about it.  Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care states that "Cutting preventative and primary health care is poor health care policy that threatens public safety and increases costs to taxpayers."  Furthermore, they believe that the cuts are "unjust and counter to Canada's long history of compassion and openness."  

Even if it will save us $20 million a year, a group of students at Canadian Mennonite University has calculated that this only amounts to 59¢ per person. Is it worth is to you? It certainly isn't to me. So this is what we're going to do. We're going to take our 59¢, send it to Stephen Harper, and tell him where he can put it: right back into the Interim Federal Health Program. Because everyone should have access to the healthcare they need, and we have the resources to provide it.

Check out this video, and then join us in sending your spare change (no postage necessary!) to:

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper

Prime Minister of Canada, Office of P.M.

80 Wellington St.

Ottawa, Ontario

K1A 0A2

Thanks!

Laura