Thank you for that question.
First of all, I'd like to comment on the previous question about general opinion on the report. I'd like to applaud the committee's recommendation on the passage of the Juana Tejada law. I knew her as a client and eventually as a personal friend. I maintain close ties with her family. I can tell you they're very happy to see action is being taken to correct this manifestly unjust system right now.
In regard to your question, Ms. Mathyssen, currently live-in caregivers who are on what they call implied status are not eligible for OHIP coverage. That period of implied status is when they're in between work permits, when they're applying for an extension, or when they apply for permanent residence and apply for an open work permit at the same time without renewing their existing one. Their OHIP coverage ends as soon as their current work permit ends, notwithstanding the fact that they continue to be legally in Canada, continue to be legally authorized to work in Canada.
That's why we are recommending that the federal government step in and fill that gap. That gap could be at least six months. It could be longer should there be a question on whether or not this applicant is eligible for permanent residence. It could go up to two years. In fact Juana Tejada did not have OHIP coverage from August 2007 until December 2008. She became a landed immigrant in September 2008. But for whatever reason that she did not wish to challenge, OHIP still denied her coverage when she became a landed immigrant.
Something needs to be done about medical coverage for live-in caregivers. This needs to be looked at very closely, and the provincial government has to respond to that.