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In a bold move, the Conservative Party has introduced a motion in the House of Commons aimed at revising health benefits afforded to asylum seekers in Canada. This proposal, set for discussion on Tuesday, seeks to impose stricter limitations on who qualifies for these services while calling for the immediate deportation of foreign nationals convicted of crimes within the country. Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has framed this initiative as a necessary response to perceived abuses of the health system and escalating costs.
Addressing Rising Costs
The impetus for this motion stems from a recent report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO), which highlighted a significant financial burden associated with the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). This programme provides essential medical services to asylum seekers, refugees, and other protected individuals, including routine medical care, hospital visits, and supplementary services like urgent dental care and psychological therapy.
According to the PBO, the cost of the IFHP is projected to soar to an astonishing £1.5 billion annually by the fiscal year 2028-29. This figure has raised alarms among Conservative members, prompting Poilievre to assert, “Enough is enough. We can’t allow foreign criminals to take advantage of our system, false refugee claims to overwhelm the services that you pay for.”
Proposed Changes to Asylum Benefits
The Conservative motion advocates for a comprehensive review of the health benefits allocated to asylum claimants to identify potential savings. Specifically, it suggests that only emergency, life-saving care should be available to those appealing a rejected claim. Furthermore, the motion would mandate annual reporting to Parliament on the usage of the programme, with particular attention to the supplementary benefits that are often not extended to Canadian citizens.
Statistics reveal that the number of beneficiaries of the IFHP has dramatically increased, with approximately 624,000 people expected to benefit in 2024-25, a significant rise from about 200,000 in 2020-21. Most of these beneficiaries are asylum claimants, and the Immigration and Refugee Board currently has around 300,000 pending claims. However, the latest figures indicate a notable decline in asylum claims, dropping nearly a third from the previous year, a statistic Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab highlighted during question time.
Legislative Changes Ahead
In response to these developments, the federal government has introduced Bill C-12, which aims to prevent the misuse of the asylum process. This bill proposes various measures, including making certain individuals ineligible for asylum claims, such as those who have been in Canada for over a year or who attempt to claim asylum more than 14 days after entering via a land border. Additionally, it seeks to streamline the processing of claims to ensure that decisions are made only while the claimant is physically present in Canada.
Moreover, the government plans to implement a co-payment system for supplementary coverage and prescription drugs under the IFHP, set to commence on May 1. This will require claimants to cover 30 per cent of the costs associated with supplemental services, along with a nominal £4 fee for each prescription filled. Such measures are part of a broader strategy by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to achieve 15 per cent savings over the next three years.
Prior Restrictions and Legal Challenges
Historically, the Conservative government under Stephen Harper had imposed restrictions on supplementary coverage for privately sponsored refugees and those who claimed asylum after their arrival in Canada. However, these changes were contested in court, leading to a Federal Court ruling in 2014 that deemed the restrictions violated the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Following the Liberal government’s assumption of power in 2015, the appeal was dropped, and the programme was reinstated.
In discussing the new motion, Poilievre emphasised the need for judges to impose full sentences on foreign nationals convicted of crimes, thereby ensuring complete deportation of non-citizens found guilty. Current Canadian laws permit the deportation of foreign nationals and permanent residents convicted of crimes carrying maximum sentences of 10 years, as well as those serving sentences longer than six months.
Why it Matters
The proposed motion marks a significant moment in the ongoing discourse surrounding immigration and health care in Canada. As the Conservative Party pushes for stricter regulations on asylum seekers and their access to health benefits, the implications could reverberate across the social fabric of the nation. With rising costs and growing public scrutiny of the asylum process, this initiative could reshape not only health care access for one of the most vulnerable populations but also the broader conversation about immigration policy in Canada. How the government and opposition navigate this contentious issue will have lasting effects on the nation’s approach to refugees and asylum seekers.
