A petition for health care coverage for all who are resident in Manitoba

On Wednesday May 11, I read a petition calling for provincial health care coverage for all who are resident in Manitoba including refugee claimants, migrant workers, international students, dependent children of temporary residents and including undocumented residents.

Health-Care Coverage for International Students

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Yes, I–Madam Speaker, I wish to present the following petition to the Legislative Assembly.

      The background to this petition is as follows:

      Health care is a basic human right and a funda­mental part of responsible public health. Many people in Manitoba are not covered by provincial health care: migrant workers with work permits of less  than a year, international students and those un­documented residents who have lost their status for a variety of reasons.

      Racialized people and communities are dis­proportionately affected by the pandemic, mainly due to the social and economic conditions which leave them vulnerable while performing essential work in a variety of industries in Manitoba.

      Without adequate health-care coverage, if they are ill, many of the uninsured will avoid seeking health care due to fear of being charged for the care, and some will fear possible detention, deportation if their immigration status is reported to the authorities.

      According to the United Nations Human Rights Committee, denying essential health care to un­documented irregular migrants is a violation of their rights.

      Jurisdictions across Canada and the world have adopted access-without-fear policies to prevent sharing personal health information or immigration status with immigration authorities and to give uninsured residents confidence to access health care.

      The pandemic has clearly identified the need for everyone in Manitoba to have access to health care to protect the health and safety of all who live in the province.

      We petition the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba as follows:

      To urge the provincial government to immediately provide comprehensive and free health-care coverage to all residents of Manitoba, regardless of immigration status, including refugee claimants, migrant workers, international students, dependant children of temporary residents and undocumented residents.

      To urge the minister of Health and seniors care to undertake a multilingual communications campaign to provide information on expanded coverage to all affected residents.

      To urge the minister of Health and seniors care to inform all health-care institutions and providers of expanded coverage for those without health insurance and the details on how necessary policy and protocol changes will be implemented.

      To urge the minister of Health and seniors care to create and enforce strict confidentiality policies and provide staff with training to protect the safety of residents with precarious immigration status and ensure they can access health care without jeopardizing their ability to remain in Canada.

      Signed by Gisêle Hutchinson, Dennis Mager, Olivia Macdonald Mager and many others.

      Thank you.