Michelle Thompson
Minister of Health and Wellness

Dear Minister,

It is with deep concern that the below signatory organizations write in support of Kerian Burnett, a mother of 6 and grandmother of 2, who was diagnosed with cancer in September 2022 while working on a strawberry farm in Nova Scotia. As an agricultural worker from Jamaica, she does not have access to MSI and she faces thousands of dollars in medical fees to access life-saving treatments. As Ms. Burnett recently said, “I just need a chance to live again.” 

In some provinces, migrant workers have access to public healthcare on arrival. However, in Nova Scotia, migrant workers must have a one-year work permit to be eligible for MSI. For migrant workers like Ms. Burnett who are employed under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP), the duration of their contacts is a maximum of eight months in one calendar year. As such, they are excluded from MSI and left in a vulnerable situation. 

Migrant workers like Ms. Burnett must rely on private health insurance which is tied to their employment and, for SAWP workers, which they pay for through deductions on their pay cheques. In Ms. Burnett’s case, she was fired after becoming ill and her private health insurance was terminated. Her case exemplifies migrant workers’ precarious access to healthcare in Nova Scotia.

We urge you to protect Ms. Burnett’s human right to health care, and that of thousands of other migrant workers in Nova Scotia, and immediately grant them access to MSI. 

Ms. Burnett’s case is not isolated. Thousands of temporary foreign workers in Nova Scotia do not currently have access to MSI. The private health coverage that migrant workers do have is insufficient. Without safe and free access to health care, workers are left vulnerable, and their conditions worsen. 

We reiterate the call on the Government of Nova Scotia to immediately end the unjust treatment of migrant workers in Nova Scotia and tiered access to basic health care. We call on the Minister to immediately grant Ms. Burnett and all migrant workers in Nova Scotia access to MSI.  

Healthcare is a human right and everyone should have access regardless of immigration status. 

Signed by:

Antigonish Coalition to End Poverty

Atlantic Regional Solidarity Network

Bus Stop Theatre Co-op

Central Kings Community Health Board

CUPE NS

Empowerment For Hope Society

Glitter Bean Cafe & Co-op

Halifax Refugee Clinic

Halifax Workers' Action Centre

Immigrant Migrant Women's Association

Inspiring Communities

KAIROS Halifax

King’s Students’ Union

Loaded Ladle

Martha Justice Ministry

Mayworks Kjipuktuk/Halifax

National Farmers Union - Nova Scotia

No one is illegal - Nova Scotia, Migrant Workers Program

North Shore of Nova Scotia Chapter, Council of Canadians

Nova Scotia Health Coalition

Nova Scotia Justice for Workers

Queer Arabs Halifax

Radstorm

Sankara Market

Tatamagouche Centre

Western Kings Community Health Board