WATCH ABOVE: Three years ago, Vicky Venancio was paralyzed when she was struck by a car on her way to work. Since then, she’s been pleading for health coverage and a chance to stay in Canada. As Lisa Wolansky reports, Friday night the temporary foreign worker received some good news.
EDMONTON — A temporary foreign worker who was left in a wheelchair following an accident in Edmonton nearly three years ago has been granted a two-year open work permit.
Maria Victoria Venancio, whose friends call her ‘Vicky,’ received the good news Friday night from the federal Minister of State for Multiculturalism Tim Uppal.
“I’m very happy and amazed,” said Venancio, who has been worried for months about being deported. “It’s a huge change. It’s freedom already.
“It’s been three years already that I felt like I got stuck and I always wanted to go back to my old routine, even though I’m in a wheelchair. Despite my situation I wanted to be useful not just sitting around.”
Venancio, who came to Canada from the Philippines in 2011, was paralyzed from the chest down after being hit by a vehicle while riding her bike to work at a local McDonald’s in 2012. She lost her work permit and health care benefits, and faced deportation.
Arnim Joop saw media reports of Venancio’s situation earlier this year and has been working to advocate for her by contacting politicians and making her story heard.
“I think it’s wonderful… This was more than we ever expected,” he said Saturday. “She can build a resume in those two years and I think it will be more difficult to kick her out after that. We’re hoping that the next step will be permanent residency and maybe Canadian citizenship.”
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Venancio has filed an application to stay in Canada as a permanent resident. Uppal, who delivered the news to Venancio in person Friday evening, said the two-year open work permit will allow her to work in Canada while her other application is assessed by immigration officials.
“I really wanted to be able to sit down with her and give her the good news that she doesn’t have to worry about being asked to leave the country, that she has two years now to work and be part of the community,” said Uppal.
READ MORE: Edmonton temporary foreign worker seeks permanent residency
Health Minister Sarah Hoffman said she too was pleased with the federal government’s decision to grant Venancio the work permit.
“She’ll have access to the same health care benefits as other Albertans, other refugees living in Alberta,” said Hoffman. “It sounds like this is that little extra comfort, including pain medication, to help her live comfortably and legally in Canada so this is good news.”
Venancio has a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from Bulcan State University in the Philippines. Until her accident Venancio was working as a chef.
Venancio is going through rehabilitation, and has taken a few steps with a walker, but knows she still has a long way to go. Getting a job and having her health care reinstated will be a huge step on her road to recovery, she said.
“I was so very grateful for the opportunity for all the people who have been helping me, who have been supporting me,” she said. “It gave me courage. It makes lots of difference to know that even the people you don’t know are supporting you.
“I thought I couldn’t do it any more but they helped me to see that I can do anything that I wanted to.”
Venancio is working to support her parents, six siblings and their families back in the Philippines.
With files from Lisa Wolansky, Global News.
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