Discussion · Oral Questions
Peter Fragiskatos Liberal
“Both parties have supported health care for refugee claimants since the 1950s. Claimants make up less than 1% of our population, and their health care costs less than 0.2% of our total health spending. We have a duty to help them.”
“Mr. Speaker, that was almost on cue. I guess the member did not have time to revise the question. There the Conservatives go again about refugee claimants. The members knows or should know that the interim federal health program has been in existence since the 1950s, supported by successive Conservative and Liberal governments. Let us also continue with the facts. Refugee claimants comprise less than 1% of the total population. That program, the interim federal health program, makes up less than 0.2% of the total health care spending in Canada. We have an obligation to respond in a compassionate way and also in a responsible way.”
Official Hansard
Mr. Speaker, that was almost on cue. I guess the member did not have time to revise the question. There the Conservatives go again about refugee claimants. The members knows or should know that the interim federal health program has been in existence since the 1950s, supported by successive Conservative and Liberal governments. Let us also continue with the facts. Refugee claimants comprise less than 1% of the total population. That program, the interim federal health program, makes up less than 0.2% of the total health care spending in Canada. We have an obligation to respond in a compassionate way and also in a responsible way.