TORONTO - Ottawa's cutbacks to health-care coverage for refugee claimants may leave some of them dependent on the charity of provincial officials, a judge said Thursday. <\/p>\n
Justice Anne Mactavish raised the issue on the last day of a legal challenge launched by Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care and the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers. <\/p>\n
The groups argue the changes announced 18 months ago are unlawful and inhumane, and want the court to strike them down. <\/p>\n
Government lawyers say the new rules bring health benefits for newcomers in line with what other Canadians receive, and deter those who would abuse Canada's health-care system. <\/p>\n
They have argued refugee claimants can still access health care through other programs, including those put in place by some provinces to reinstate access to essential and emergency care. <\/p>\n
But though Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario have all taken steps to bridge the gap, not all offer the same level of coverage. <\/p>\n
While Ontario has put forth a \"coherent program,\" Mactavish said, Quebec offers assistance on an ad-hoc basis, which can leave refugee claimants dependent on the \"whims\" and \"charity\" of officials. <\/p>\n
\"Is that filling the gap?\" the judge asked. And \"is it humane to put people through that?\" <\/p>\n
Neeta Logsetty, one of the government lawyers, said many refugee claimants had also received donations from pharmaceutical companies and help from doctors, as well as provincial assistance. <\/p>\n
Of those involved in the court case, \"everyone got the treatment they required, at little or no cost,\" she told the judge. <\/p>\n
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Refugee health-care cuts challenged in court<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" TORONTO - Ottawa's cutbacks to health-care coverage for refugee claimants may leave some of them dependent on the charity of provincial officials, a judge said Thursday. Continue reading