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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

During question period on immigration, Conservative members pressed the government over interim health benefits for rejected asylum claimants, citing a case of a rejected claimant with a violent history and noting that thousands of rejected claimants with deportation orders remain in Canada. They asked why rejected claimants receive health coverage and where those with outstanding deportation orders are. Liberal ministers responded that the interim health program provides limited, temporary coverage for vulnerable people, that claimant volumes have dropped, and that their budget and border bill (Bill C-12) will produce savings, adding that the Canada Border Services Agency removed over 23,000 people last year and is on track to continue that trend.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Dan Mazier

Conservative
“I want the health minister to explain why rejected asylum claimants, including people who have committed violent crimes, get extra health benefits that law-abiding Canadians do not get.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, 74,000 rejected asylum claimants remain eligible for luxury health benefits like physiotherapy and counselling under the Liberals. One of those rejected asylum claimants was Fawad Ahmad. After leaving Afghanistan, he went to the United States, where he choked his wife and threatened to choke her again if she called the police. He then entered Canada and claimed asylum, but was rejected. Can the health minister explain why rejected asylum claimants who choke their wives get better health benefits than law-abiding Canadians?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“This program provides limited, basic health care to vulnerable people. The number of people using it dropped by 59 percent. Our changes will save taxpayers more than 200 million dollars a year.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Clarity 46 of 100

    Much of this statement used imprecise wording, lacked details on timing or responsibility, or made broad claims without support.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as I have said the last number of days, the Parliamentary Budget Officer confirmed what we already know and that is this health program provides limited, temporary, essential health coverage for vulnerable people. The cost is tied to volumes. The good news is our volumes have gone down by 59%. Taxpayers will save over $200 million annually because of the IFHP changes that we have instituted.

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Dan Mazier

Conservative
“A man who was rejected for asylum still gets government-funded health benefits, like counselling and physiotherapy, after committing violence in the United States. I want the health minister to admit this is wrong.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, maybe the Liberals need a taxpayer-funded counselling session to understand why Canadians are furious. After leaving Afghanistan, Fawad Ahmad went to the United States where he choked his wife and threatened to choke her again. He later entered Canada and claimed asylum, but was rejected. Yet the Liberals kept him eligible for taxpayer-funded luxury health benefits like physiotherapy and counselling. Will the health minister finally admit this is wrong, or does she believe rejected asylum claimants deserve better health benefits than Canadians paying the bill?

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Lena Metlege Diab

Liberal
“Our budget and our border bill will save $400 million on temporary health care. That is because our bill helped lower the number of people seeking asylum.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what Canadians need to know is that, because of a Liberal budget and because of a Liberal bill, Bill C-12, and as confirmed by the Parliamentary Budget Officer, there will be $400 million in savings, $200 million plus another $200 million, in the interim health care coverage, because asylum numbers have gone down and because we brought forth Bill C-12 to curb exactly those situations.

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Burton Bailey

Conservative
“The minister does not know where nearly 30,000 rejected asylum seekers are, even though they have deportation orders. They are hiding from the law, but they still get free health care. I want to know why the government is paying for their health care instead of helping Canadian families.”

  • A repeated line

    “The Prime Minister is just another Liberal.”

    Said 22 times by 14 members since April 23.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the minister confirmed she has no clue where nearly 30,000 rejected asylum claimants with active deportation orders are. These people are wanted by the government and are hiding from authorities, therefore they are breaking the law. Yet all of them are still entitled to better health care than Canadians. It is more costs, more waste, more corruption and more of the same. This Prime Minister is just another costly Liberal. Why does this Liberal government continue to let thousands of fake refugee fugitives freeload luxury health coverage on the backs of struggling families?

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Gary Anandasangaree

Liberal
“Border officers removed over 23,000 people who were not allowed to be in Canada last year. They are on track to do the same this year to keep Canadians safe.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 45 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, let me just confirm that last year the Canada Border Services Agency removed an incredible number of individuals who were ineligible to be here in Canada. Over 23,000 individuals were removed. This year, the CBSA is on target to continue that trend and to ensure those who are ineligible to be in Canada are removed expeditiously. Our men and women of the CBSA are working hard each and every day to ensure the safety and security of Canadians, and we will continue on that path.

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