Halifax, NS (May 16, 2023) – On May 15, 2023, dozens of community members attended “Cards for Kerian,” an event in Halifax aimed at showing support for migrant Kerian Burnett and calling on the province to provide her with healthcare coverage. Community members created Get Well Soon cards for Kerian, who was diagnosed with cervical cancer in September 2022 while working as a migrant worker in Nova Scotia. Kerian has been hospitalized since February 2023.
“Imagine having life-threatening cancer, losing your job, and being far away from home without your family… And then having to navigate those circumstances without healthcare coverage. It’s an undue stress that no one should ever have to face” said Stacey Gomez, Manager of No one is illegal – Nova Scotia’s (NOII-NS) Migrant Worker Program. “This is not an individual situation that Kerian has to deal with alone. This is a collective responsibility, where we need to advocate and support Kerian and others like her.”
The event is hosted the day after Mother’s Day, in support of Kerian who is currently separated from her 6 children and 2 grandchildren. Kerian came to Nova Scotia through the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP), which does not permit workers to bring their families with them.
After Kerian became ill, her employment and private health insurance were terminated, leaving her without healthcare coverage.
Public healthcare coverage for migrant workers varies province to province. In Nova Scotia, migrant workers must have a one-year work permit to be eligible for public healthcare (MSI). This means that SAWP workers are ineligible because their contracts last up to 8 months of the calendar year. In provinces like Quebec and Ontario, SAWP workers are eligible for public healthcare coverage on arrival.
Twenty-six Nova Scotia based organizations, including No One Is Illegal – Nova Scotia (NOII-NS), are calling for MSI coverage for Kerian, and all other migrant workers entering the province.
– 30 –
