“You always talk about asylum seekers and refugees. I'll call that right-wing populism. I won't address your hotel question directly. Instead, I'll just say we're working on long-term housing solutions.”
What they said. What they meant.
Plain-language translations from the House of Commons.
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Oral Questions
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
During question period, the Conservatives asked the Liberal government about taxpayer funding for housing asylum claimants, suggesting it was wasteful spending on hotels. The Liberals argued that hotels were not being used and accused the Conservatives of fixating on asylum claimants instead of proposing meaningful immigration reforms. The Conservatives then criticized the cost of the interim federal health program for failed asylum claimants who have not yet been deported.
“The member's complaint is outdated. We aren't using hotels for refugees right now. But I'm not going to deny it completely, because our government will keep helping in other ways. And I'll compliment and anticipate the upcoming report too.”
“I won't directly answer your point about deporting failed claimants. Instead I'll talk about the history of the health program. We're spending so little, what do you care? I think these people should get it anyway.”