building a better world

June 27, 2024

Register with IFHP

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Take Action

Learn how to better serve refugee claimants as a health practitioner by registering with IFHP :

Email us at wellness@therefugeecentre.org or by phone at (514) 846-0005

Email Button

Email us at wellness@therefugeecentre.org or by phone at (514) 846-0005.

Visit the Government of Canada's website for more information.

Refugee claimants in Quebec are being denied essential healthcare services despite being legally entitled to them under the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). This campaign exposes how administrative confusion, provider ignorance, and systemic discrimination leave many claimants without access to basic medical care. Clinics often refuse to accept IFHP coverage, misclassify patients as uninsured, or demand up-front payment—creating dangerous delays and deepening trauma for those already in vulnerable situations.

We’re calling on both the Quebec and federal governments to take immediate action: enforce IFHP compliance, train healthcare providers, and fund frontline organizations that help refugees navigate this broken system. Healthcare is not optional—it's a right. Denying it violates both human dignity and Canada’s international obligations.

Take Action

Learn how to better serve refugee claimants as a health practitioner by registering with IFHP :

Email us at wellness@therefugeecentre.org or by phone at (514) 846-0005

Email Button

Email us at wellness@therefugeecentre.org or by phone at (514) 846-0005.

Visit the Government of Canada's website for more information.

View our other campaigns

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The Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA) is a treaty between Canada and the US. It was implemented in 2004 and requires asylum seekers to claim in the first “safe” country they arrive in. This means that if a person goes through the US and attempts to claim at the Canadian border they will be “returned” or removed to the US.

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Francisation Update

July 2024, The Refugee Centre’s Advocacy team called on the public to stand against Quebec’s 6-month french language proficiency deadline for newcomers, and to help us advocate for a more accessible Francisation system, adding more teachers, and creating more classes.

Read more...
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