Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall: Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews

Immigration Canada Dept: Ontario Health Minister Deb Matthews has already criticized Immigration Canada for new rules that deny refugees medical care. And last week, Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall no softie on social issues slammed the federal government for refusing to pay for chemotherapy for a Middle East refugee, according to The Star. Decisions like these are a black eye for a country built by immigrants, many of whom came as refugees, got a hand up and thrived. As Wall said last week, coverage for refugee health is common sense: This is the kind of country we are. You cover it. The stories are heartbreaking and decidedly un-Canadian if you believe in our country s tradition of giving medical care to refugees. Now, s Nicholas Keung has uncovered another distressing, but different, example of Immigration Canada s hard-line tactics, a decision that could deny a Toronto woman with renal failure a second chance at life. Her relative in El Salvador is offering a kidney and would travel here for the surgery but the federal department won t issue a visa, claiming he might refuse to leave. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.