Quebec looks to extend health coverage for Ukrainian refugees

The Quebec government is working on a way to continue health-care coverage for Ukrainian refugees in the province after it expires in March, Health Minister Christian Dubé announced Wednesday.

"We will find a solution," said Dubé. "We will not abandon Ukrainian refugees."

He said the provincial and federal government are still discussing the situation, but "we want to extend their coverage."

"Quebec has a commitment to them, and we will honour it," he said.

Back in August, Quebec sent out notices to refugees, letting them know that they would be losing public health-care coverage even though Ottawa extended their work permits to 2027.

Among refugees who received a letter was Oleksii Smoliarchuk, who said it left him and his family puzzled because, as a worker, he pays the same taxes as everyone else. He looked into private insurance, but found it would cost hundreds of dollars per month.

Other refugees were left in similar situations.

Of the 300,000 Ukrainians welcomed in Canada, 30,000 chose Quebec, including 25,000 in the Montreal region.

WATCH | Ukranian refugees worry about loss of health care: 

Ukrainian refugees are losing Quebec health care — while their country is still at war

3 months ago

Duration 3:03

While many Ukrainians who have settled in the province since 2022 have work permits that will remain valid for several more years, Quebec has decided to end their health-care benefits, leaving some in difficult situations.

"The war is still here. The need for shelters is still here. We would like our MPs and ministers to still demonstrate the compassion they had three years ago," said Michael Shwec in a Radio-Canada interview earlier this month.

He's president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress's Quebec chapter. He grew up in Montreal, his family having immigrated here during the First World War. 

In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Quebecers opened their doors and wallets to help, he said, as it's part of their values. Then, he lamented, the provincial government seemed to just say, "well, that's over."

In the case of asylum seekers or refugees, health-care coverage is automatic. But in this case, the Ukrainians arrived on an open work permit, which does not offer them the same coverage automatically.

It was a political decision to initially give the refugees coverage through February 2025. Regardless of what the province and federal government decide, Ukrainian children will remain covered by Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ), like all children living in Quebec regardless of the parents' immigration status, under Law 83 adopted in 2021.