Healthcare for all: Kerian Burnett’s story [July 16, 1pm – Antigonish, 283 Main St.]

“Kerian Burnett is a mother of six and grandmother of two. Last year, she left her home in Jamaica to come work on a strawberry farm in Nova Scotia. While working here, she received the devastating news of a cancer diagnosis. While migrant workers like Kerian support Nova Scotian farms and our economy, they are unfairly excluded from provincial healthcare coverage (MSI). Without access to MSI, Kerian is now expected to pay for expensive healthcare costs out-of-pocket.

Join us to hear from Kerian, along with Stacey Gomez from No One is Illegal – Nova Scotia. Come learn and show your support. After a brief talk, you will be invited to participate in a postering action with us. For more information, contact noii.hfx@gmail.com or visit www.migrantjusticens.ca/kerian-burnett

Background:
In some provinces, migrant farm workers have access to public healthcare coverage on arrival. But, in Nova Scotia, migrant workers must have a one-year work permit to be eligible for public healthcare coverage (MSI). This means that migrant farm workers in the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) like Kerian are not eligible, because these contracts are only up to 8 months of the calendar year. However, many migrant workers live and work in Nova Scotia year after year.

No one is illegal – Nova Scotia, Martha Justice Ministry, Sisters of St. Martha, and other organizations are calling for access to MSI on arrival for all migrant workers, and immediate healthcare coverage for Kerian.”