Policy Reform Advocacy for the Healthcare Rights of Critically Ill International Agricultural Workers

International agricultural workers (IAWs) are vital to Canada’s agricultural sector and economy, yet their healthcare rights remain precarious. Despite contributing to health insurance during their employment, many IAWs lose access to healthcare when they become critically ill due to systemic barriers. The problem lies in the lack of clarity over jurisdiction: IAWs are brought in through a federal program, but healthcare delivery falls under provincial authority. This gap underscores an urgent need for policy reform to guarantee continuity of healthcare access for IAWs. Our project advocates for a policy that provides critically ill IAWs access to their insurance. Using the EPIC method, we contacted eight government officials, engaging six in meaningful discussions, with one committing to support our proposed policy. These involved officials whose party was familiar with our agenda but also those who were not. We presented our proposal that indicated how providing healthcare would not financially strain Canada’s healthcare system. Furthermore, ensuring healthcare access for IAWs aligns with Canada’s core values of equity and compassion. These efforts were supported by collaborations with community leaders to gain insights into the lived experiences of IAWs and to broaden our support network. Due to the nature of advocacy, this process remains ongoing until the goal of policy change has been achieved. This work underscores the importance of structured, empathetic advocacy in addressing systemic inequities. By combining targeted outreach to policymakers with community-driven insights, our research presents a replicable model for achieving impactful and sustainable policy change in support of vulnerable populations.