Although public health care is one of Canada’s top selling features, it may come as a surprise that newcomers aren’t immediately eligible for coverage.
At Matthew House, it's estimated 70 per cent of residents have come through the irregular border crossing at Roxham Road in Quebec. With that province saying it can't accept more refugees and asylum seekers, services and supports in Ottawa are under more pressure to help.
For the past year, hospitals, birthing centres and community organizations in the Montreal area have been organizing to deal with a growing influx of pregnant women crossing at Roxham Road.