Alberta health minister says injured TFWs deserve support
Alberta's health minister says temporary foreign workers injured in the province deserve support.
Exactly what kind of support isn't yet clear.
Sarah Hoffman's comments come just a day after a letter written by the president of the Alberta Medical Association about Maria Victoria Venancio, a TFW injured in Edmonton was made public. Association president, Dr. Richard Johnston said that health care support for an injured TFW shouldn't end if they are required to leave the province. He also called for clearer definitions about when the province's responsibility for health care for TFWs begins and ends.
In a statement released to CBC Hoffman said she agreed with the stance taken by AMA, adding, "I deeply sympathize with this woman who has overcome so much but is still in a very difficult circumstance."
Hoffman made no commitments specific to Venancio's situation but did say she will meet with the health ministry to discuss the issue.
She said she may raise the issue of TFWs being covered by health insurance with provincial health ministers from other jurisdictions when they meet again.
Venancio, 29, a worker from the Philippines, was hit by a car in June 2012 while riding her bike to work. The crash left her a quadriplegic and because she couldn't work her visa was not renewed.
In April, former Health Minister Stephen Mandel rejected a call to provide healthcare coverage to Venancio.
