The impact of Sanctuary City Policies on healthcare access for immigrants in Winnipeg
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Date
2024-03-14
Authors
Andrade, Evandro
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Abstract
This study examines the impact of Sanctuary City Policies (SCPs) on healthcare access for immigrants with precarious status in Winnipeg, focusing on undocumented immigrants, asylum-seekers, and those awaiting legal status determination. It delves into the challenges these individuals face in accessing healthcare due to legal barriers, insurance availability, and fear of deportation, intensified by their heightened health risks and inequities, especially during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper analyzes Canada's health rights framework, including international obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, as well as Winnipeg's Newcomer Welcome and Inclusion Policy (NWIP) and different SCPs experiences both abroad and in Canada. It argues that Canada's SCPs, while aiming to protect undocumented immigrants, fall short of fully addressing the obligations outlined in international treaties, leading to disparities in healthcare access. This research integrates international human rights law, international refugee law, and public policy to propose a more inclusive and effective healthcare strategy for immigrants with precarious status, emphasizing the need for a unified approach that overcomes the legal and jurisdictional complexities of Canada's decentralized healthcare system.
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Sanctuary City Policies, Healthcare Access, Immigrants, Winnipeg, International Human Rights Law (IHRL), International Refugee Law (IRL), International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Newcomer Welcome and Inclusion Policy (NWIP), Public Policy, Equity