Unclear Canada immigration norms regarding immigrants’ illness

Canada, 17th May: If you want to come to Canada but are suffering from any illness, you may be in for a trouble.

Canada does not want ill immigrants—Canada has its doors open for qualified immigrants unless they are suffering from any illness with the only exception being if they happen to be wealthy—maybe.

This was written by a judge in a 2010 ruling.

And it seems to offer a hint into the workings of the immigration process of Canada. For Canada is not interested in allowing immigrants with serious illnesses to come here. The reason? Canada government feels many of such immigrants might not fulfill their promise to pay for their healthcare in Canada.

In a recent case, Canadian Court overturned a decision by the government to bar an immigrant hailing from Panama because of the burden of his medical costs on the nation.

No rules for enforcing sick immigrants to pay for healthcare--At present, Canada immigration department-CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada)-does not have any framework to reinforce any plans for cost mitigation, states an official spokesperson of CIC, Remi Lariviere.

Even the government of Canada is unclear about whether Canada should allow seriously ill migrants to come here or not, adds Lariviere. Reason being there is no assurance of paying for health services by seriously ill immigrants when they enjoy to government-funded health care, he maintains.

And the fact that there are no rules to enforce healthcare costs on migrants is complicating the issue, writes Lariviere.

Clarifications are needed with regard to the rules of Canada government, says a Toronto based immigration lawyer, Sergio Karas. Only then can the immigrants suffering from illness be forced to cover their healthcare costs. Canada must have some system to get assurance about immigrant’s health care cost coverage, he asserts.

Another thing worth consideration is having a debate to know about the views of the Canadian taxpayers regarding public funding for immigrants’ healthcare in Canada, Karas maintained.

Allowing immigrants on the basis of their contribution--According to John Norquay of Ontario’s HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic, Canada must allow immigrants on the basis of their contributions to the nation.

Immigrants wanting to come to Canada should be given an opportunity if they have the ability to offset healthcare costs and other social services. Canada should allow immigrants who can contribute more than their costs, adds Norquay.