Province to pay for Ukrainian refugee medical tests

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This article was published 01/06/2022 (1390 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA — The Manitoba government is picking up the tab for Ukrainian refugees to get medical checks required by the federal government, after first trying to get Ottawa to pay.

Under its emergency permit, Ottawa requires Ukrainians displaced by the Russian invasion to get medical exams — which can cost $350 for an adult — within their first 90 days of reaching Canada.

The tests, usually an X-ray and blood test, check for communicable diseases more prevalent outside Canada, such as tuberculosis and HIV.

The Manitoba government had tried in vain to get Ottawa to pick up the tab.

“In the absence of a federal funding commitment, the province is covering the cost,” a spokesman wrote. “We are also working through a solution to cover those who have already paid.”

As CBC News reported this weekend, it makes Manitoba the first province to pay for these medical exams.

The Stefanson government made the decision May 27, but did not issue a media release, likely due to rules that forbid announcement during byelections, such as the one in Thompson.

“As of Friday, we are waiving the fees associated with these tests,” Health Minister Audrey Gordon said during Tuesday’s question period.

“We hope to see other provinces follow in our lead, so that we can all ensure Ukrainians arriving in Canada can get the tests necessary for certain work permits.”

Some newcomers have reported reluctantly relying on donations, since they cannot take jobs Manitoba farms and companies have offered.

On Tuesday, Gordon echoed calls from advocates for the federal immigration department to authorize more doctors to do these medical checks. She said only 20 Manitoba doctors could do these inspections: 14 in Winnipeg, four in Brandon, and two in Winkler.

Newcomers usually do these tests before arriving in Canada, but the emergency permit allows them to be done after arriving in order to speed up the process.

Immigration Minister Sean Fraser was unavailable Monday and Tuesday for an interview. Instead, his office sent a statement that did not explain why Ottawa isn’t paying for the tests. It instead noted stipends will soon be offered to impacted Ukrainians.

Interlake-area Tory MP James Bezan was unimpressed.

“Conservatives commend the government of Manitoba for stepping up to cover costs incurred to these families,” he wrote.

“Instead of working with provincial governments to address the shortfalls of these programs, the federal government is offloading responsibility of providing critical needs, including health care, education, and child care, to the provinces to address.”

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca