‘Someone will die from this’

Doctors confronted Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq in Hamilton yesterday.

O’Shea asked why the federal government hasn’t met with the Canadian Doctors for Refugee Health Care, a national collective that formed this year in response to cuts to refugee benefits.

Kraeker later stood to tell a story about a local seven-year-old refugee seen in Hamilton’s refugee health clinic, where both Kraeker and O’Shea see patients. The boy had an epileptic seizure because he couldn’t get his medication, which would have cost less than a dollar a day, Kraeker said. He was rushed to the emergency room. “I don’t think it’s a stretch to say someone will die from this,” O’Shea said.

The Spectator has more on the exchange between the doctors and Ms. Aglukkaq here.

Joanna Smith talked to some of the doctors involved in these protests here. Jason Kenney was also questioned by a doctor earlier this week in Leduc, Albeta.

Previous coverage of this issue and the protests around it here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here,here, here, here, here and here.