Discussion · Oral Questions
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal
“Fewer asylum seekers are coming to Canada, so use of the federal health program for refugees is down. Refugees make up only one percent of our population. The Conservatives are wrong to blame them for problems in our health care system.”
“Mr. Speaker, the use of the interim federal health program has declined by 43% quite recently. We will continue to see that, because we are seeing a dramatic decline in the number of people seeking asylum in this country. It is down by a third, in fact. Let us go one step further, though, and question the premise of the question. Refugees make up 1% of the country’s population. Are Conservatives trying to tell us seriously now that refugees are to blame for challenges in the health care system? The Conservatives demonize, they play right-wing politics and they embrace populism. It is no way forward. We will focus on Canadians.”
-
Government answer in Question Period
Signal 43 of 100
Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.
See full analysis
Mr. Speaker, the use of the interim federal health program has declined by 43% quite recently. We will continue to see that, because we are seeing a dramatic decline in the number of people seeking asylum in this country. It is down by a third, in fact. Let us go one step further, though, and question the premise of the question. Refugees make up 1% of the country’s population. Are Conservatives trying to tell us seriously now that refugees are to blame for challenges in the health care system? The Conservatives demonize, they play right-wing politics and they embrace populism. It is no way forward. We will focus on Canadians.