2012/06/19

Interim Federal Health Program

Dear Peter Braid, Stephen Woodworth, Harold Albrecht, Jason Kenney, and Hon. Leona Aglukkaq,

As a Canadian-born citizen, I'm appalled, angered, and deeply saddened by the proposed cuts to health services for refugees in Canada.  Cutting prenatal care is a monstrous attack on one of the most vulnerable people-groups of our society.  I don't know if doing so in the name of fairness is merely ironic or crosses into the realm of the sinister!

Even if you want to look at the world solely based on the bottom line, this is a short-sighted strategy.  I've witnessed it enough times, and heard many more such stories: those who don't have access to a doctor for much-needed care turn to their only remaining option, emergency services.  I'm sure you don't have to go far among your own acquaintances to find someone who has been frustrated with the wait times there!

*Refugees are a gift to Canada and our culture.*  If the best we can give them in return is to declare our friends unworthy of basic help, this is something of which we should be ashamed.  I want to live in a place where people grant each other respect, in concrete ways, for no other reason than that we are all people.  Please, help turn the tide, so we can all be proud to live here.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Kevin Field
Waterloo, ON

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