Responsible Compassion

I have changed up my blog entry today to do a little venting. I listened to federal Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander this morning as he publicly chided Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews for the "irresponsible" decision to cover health care cost for refugees. The current federal government cut this health care provision two summers ago. Groups of physicians who work with refugees, refugee support groups, and several denominations criticized this decision for a number of reasons. Since then six provinces, including Ontario, have chosen to reinstate coverage because of the problems created by removing it. A child with pneumonia should be able to get a chest x-ray in this country, regardless of whether he or she is a refugee claimant, even one whose family application might be rejected.

The fact that Alexander would describe this decision as "irresponsible" and makes Ontario a "magnet" for bogus asylum claimants is such arrogant nonsense. It is the federal government's mandate to establish an asylum-seeker protocol which is fair and just and addresses false claims. We might not agree with it ultimately, but it is the responsibility of the feds. A system which effectively penalizes all claimants is, to my mind, irresponsible. This public criticism, laced with hyperbole seems to reflect an imperial approach by the current federal government which dismisses the practical realities provinces face with asylum-seekers. How dare the provinces question these decisions!

I'm glad that the United Church of Canada responded in 2012 and I hope Ontarians and residents of the other five provinces send notes of appreciation to their governments for acting with compassion and fairness.

Thoughts?