Divorced from international student. What are my rights? Status/ health coverage

[Geanie]

In need of advice - I am on an open work permit as the spouse of an international student however my husband left me and our children a couple of months after arriving in Canada. We are now divorced and an immigration lawyer advise that once I was issued a work permit I could continue to stay on it however could not renew it due to being divorced so advised if I wanted to stay in Canada to get a visa in my own right such as provincial nominee. I am about to apply for provincial nominee but I have some concerns due to provincial health coverage. I am being told that due to my visa being a spousal visa and now I am divorced I will no longer be covered until I get a new visa. It will take maybe 18 months until I get PR and private health care is expensive. Anyone experienced a similar situation? Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[yyzstudent]

You can get healthcare insurance.