Healthcare for all: Kerian Burnett’s story [July 16, 1pm – Antigonish, 283 Main St.]
WHEN: Sunday, July 16 @ 1:30PM
WHERE: The People’s Place: Antigonish Town and County Library (283 Main St.)
WHERE: The People’s Place: Antigonish Town and County Library (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 [email protected] 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.
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.”
Via: Healthcare For All: Kerian Burnett’s Story Facebook event page
See Also:
Jamaican migrant worker granted federal health care after being fired from N.S. farm [VIDEO]
A migrant worker who was diagnosed with cervical cancer shortly after arriving in Nova Scotia has been granted health insurance under a federal program.
Kerian Burnett arrived from Jamaica in April 2022 to work on a strawberry farm, and says she was fired after her cancer diagnosis and left without medical coverage.
Her lawyer, Thiago Buchert, says that after nearly eight months Burnett has been admitted to the interim federal health program.
Migrant worker facing bill from Nova Scotia after insurance for cancer treatment cancelled
A migrant worker from Jamaica who learned she had cervical cancer shortly after she started working at a farm in
