“I want you to be outraged by this spending. I want you to spend less on these people and cut off their benefits.”
What they said. What they meant.
Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.
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Oral Questions
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
A debate about providing health care to asylum seekers and refugees through the interim federal health program. The Conservatives argued it's unfair for fake refugee claimants to bump Canadians from the healthcare they pay for, while the Liberals defended the long-standing program, pointing out declining usage and asylum claims.
“My party spends money on this program. We want to look compassionate. Yes, it costs more now. We made the program bigger. I hope a rule change will save us money.”
“Canadians are suffering and dying because our healthcare system is overloaded. I want the government to stop giving so many free healthcare benefits to refugee claimants. I want rejected refugee claimants deported, not treated better than Canadians. When will the government fix this unfairness?”
“Fewer people are using the refugee health program lately. There are also fewer refugee claimants overall. I don't buy that refugees, who are only 1% of Canada, could really be causing our healthcare system's problems. Conservatives just want to blame them and play right-wing politics.”