Toronto Board of Rabbis

President Rabbi Howard Morrison Vice-President Rabbi Baruch Frydman-Kohl Secretary Rabbi Debra Landsberg Treasurer Rabbi David Seed Executive Director Rabbi Michal Shekel

June 18, 2012 The Right Honourable Stephen Harper Prime Minister of Canada Office of the Prime Minister 80 Wellington Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2 Dear Prime Minister, We are writing you today on behalf of ourselves, our congregations and many members of Canada's Jewish community. As Canadian Jews, we know first-hand the enormous challenges faced by refugees arriving in a new country. We have benefited from Canada's tradition of welcoming newcomers, and are committed to seeing this tradition continue. As a result, we are deeply concerned about proposed changes to the law that will affect refugees. First, we are alarmed at the idea of designating specific countries as safe for all people. As Jews, we know that countries where the majority lives in safety can be dangerous for minority groups. Roma people living in Hungary, for example, face persecution that has been documented by the Simon Wiesenthal Centre and other human rights groups. In addition, addressing refugee claimants differently depending on how they arrive in Canada is a problematic and discriminatory practice. Second, we are worried about proposed changes to refugee health care. We have heard clearly from physicians across the country that people will face illness and even death if their access to lifesaving medication through the Interim Federal Health Program is cut off July 1st. This includes children. We also understand that people from 'designated' countries will no longer have access to even basic health care - including emergency care. Surely, it is not the government's intention to deliberately, and with certainty, cause harm to human lives. But that is exactly what we fear will happen if these changes are made to health care coverage for people who are refugees. As Jewish Canadians, many of us have suffered, or watched our loved ones suffer, at the hands of cruel and discriminatory rules for refugees. We cannot stand silent as people's health is put in danger, and their right to Canadian citizenship cast into question due to their country of origin or mode of arrival. As rabbis and as human beings, we ask that you abandon the idea of 'designated countries' and 'irregular arrivals,' and rescind the proposed changes to refugee health care coverage. We would like to meet with you as soon as possible to discuss this issue. We look forward to your response, and wish you and your loved ones a peaceful summer. With respect,

4600 Bathurst Street Toronto, Ontario M2R 3V3 Tel: 416.849.1004 Fax: 416.631.6373 email: info@torontoboardofrabbis.org

Rabbi Howard Morrison, President cc: Hon. Jason Kenney, MP Hon. Joe Oliver, MP Hon. Mark Adler, MP Hon. Peter Kent, MP

Rabbi Michal Shekel, Executive Director