Spin Cycle: Are only 'bogus' refugees affected by federal health cuts?

"Mr. Harper has demonstrated over the past weeks that in the case of refugees, Canada is not doing enough. ... He likes to talk about standing up against tyrants and dictators and against terrorists,butyou know who stands up against dictators and terrorists? Families fighting to keep their family together, hoping for a better life for them. And they cross the oceans and make it to Canada and what does Mr. Harper do? He takes away their health care." Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau, Sept. 17

• Conservative government aims to resettle 10,000 Syrian refugees by September 2016
• Baloney Meter: Has the UN asked Canada to take 9,000 refugees by Christmas?

Conservatives announced over the weekend the government will look to accelerate the resettlement to Canada of10,000 Syrian refugees, involving a mix of private and government refugee sponsorships,some 15 months earlier than originally promised.

Immigration MinisterChris Alexander said the government will do that byeasing some of the rules, increasing the number of staff handling sponsorship applications and appointing a special co-ordinatorto oversee the matter a proposal first made by the NDPearlier this month.

The announcement comes after comments madeby the mainparty leaders during last Thursday's debateabout Canada's approach to refugees and the scope of the government's cuts to refugee health care.

The spin:

During a question about immigration policy as a strategy to the long-term prosperityof the country,Trudeau accused Conservative Leader Stephen Harper of taking awayhealth care from refugees.

The counter-spin:

Harper defended his party's record on immigration and responded tothe Liberal leader'saccusation by saying, "the fact of the matter is we did not, wehave not, taken away health care from immigrants and refugees. On the contrary, the only time we've removed it is where we have bogus refugee claimants who have been refused and turned down.

"We do not offer them a better health-care plan than the ordinary Canadian can receive."

Federal cuts to refugee care

In 2012, the Conservatives made changes tothe interim federal health program,which had the effect of denying somehealth benefits to refugee claimants.

For instance, refugeesseeking asylumfrom designated countries of origin, or so-called "safe countries," were leftwith minimal health coverage from the onsetbefore a hearing was set to determine the validity of their claims.Privately sponsored refugees were also affected by the cuts.

Refugee and doctors groups took legal action, andin 2014the Federal Court found the government's treatmentof refugees was not only unconstitutional but also"cruel and unusual,"and gavethe Conservativesfour months to reversethe cuts.InNovember, the Conservatives temporarily restored some health benefits while appealing the ruling.

Accordingto the government's own summary of benefits, refugee claimants receive some basic health coverage. Refugeesawaiting a decision on their status, as well as privately sponsored refugees, receive basic coverage but when it comes toprescription drugsare only covered for drugs deemednecessary"to prevent or treat a disease posing a risk to public health or to treat a condition of public safety concern."

The two groups are not covered for what the government calls "supplemental coverage," which includes "limited dental and vision care, prosthetics and devices to assist mobility, home care and long-term care, psychological counselling provided by a registered clinical psychologist, and post-arrival health assessments."

By contrast, government-assisted refugees do benefit from this additional health coverage.So do refugee claimants under 19 years of age.

The minister could, according to the temporary measures,choose to extend these benefits toany person or groups due to"exceptional and compelling circumstances."

Legal arguments are expectedto be heard inOctober, but a judgmentis not expected until later this year at the earliest.

• Refugee health care temporarily restored in most categories
• Conservatives' refugee system overhaul dealt another blow by Federal Court
• Refugees to Canada delayed last year as money ran low
• Refugee health advocates return to court, pushing feds to comply

Private sponsorsonhook for some costs

Of the 10,000 Syrian refugees the government is looking to resettleto Canada, Alexander said that60 per cent would be sponsored by private groups and 40 per cent would be sponsored by the government.

The Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers and Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care, two ofthe five parties that challenged the cuts in court, are warning the government's moves willalso affect privately sponsored refugees.

'The Conservative government is abandoning PSRs [privately sponsored refugees] once they arrive, leaving it to sponsoring Canadians to pick up health costs previously covered by the government.'-Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care

"The Conservative government is abandoning [privately sponsored refugees] once they arrive, leaving it to sponsoring Canadians to pick up health costs previously covered by the government," said a statement fromCanadian Doctors for Refugee Care immediatelyfollowing the government's announcement on Saturday.

In an interview with CBC News, Peter Showler, the co-chair of the advocacy committee with the refugee lawyers group, said the government has "foisted the main health-care burden on those private sponsorship groups.

"It's one of themany ways in which the government has discouraged private sponsorship,while at the same time shifting the burden from government sponsorship for refugees over to private sponsorships," said Showler,a former chair of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada and an expert in refugee law at the University of Ottawa.

The Canadian Refugee Sponsorship Agreement Holders Association, a group that helps to resettle privately sponsored refugees, is also calling on the government to restore health coverageto pre-2012 levels "so that privately sponsored refugees receive the same coverage as government-sponsored refugees."

While some provinces have stepped in to fill in the gaps, doctors and refugee groups say the temporary measures have created a complicated patchwork system leaving refugees and Canadians to pick up the tab.

"No refugee claimant," according to Canadian Doctors for Refugee Care,"ever received more health-care coverage than Canadians receiving social assistance."

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party referred CBC News to Alexander's office. The minister's office did not respond to CBC News' request in time for publication.

The rinse:

Trudeauis partly right. The government did introduce cuts to the interim federal health program, leaving refugeeswith minimal health benefits but not entirely without health benefits, asTrudeau's claim mayhave implied.

Harper is wrongwhen hesays the Conservative government only took away some benefits from "bogus" refugees.

Refugee claimantsare currently being denied some federal health benefits while their claims are being processed, not just once their applications are rejected.Privately sponsored refugees which includes the bulk of the Syrian refugees the government is promising to bring to Canada by September 2016 are also among the groups of refugees receiving limited coverage.