Maggie Chi · TranslatePolitics.ca

Oral Questions

Health

2026-05-08

“The program spent money. It didn't work out. We stopped it. We will spend money on other things.”

“A program spent lots of money under the other guys. We kept it going. When it failed we stopped.”

Oral Questions

Health

2026-05-01

“I want to make our government look good. I want to say we are doing a good job. I want to say we are making things work better. I want to talk about helping everyone.”

“I want to defend my party. I want to make it sound like there was no choice. I want to say the other government started it. I want my ending it to sound good. I want to say 'responsible decision' a lot.”

Oral Questions

Mental Health and Addictions

2026-04-30

“We are sad. We want to help. We have many programs. We will keep spending money on this problem.”

Adjournment Proceedings

2026-04-29

“I'm happy to talk about this. We're giving Canadians pharmacare. We're doing it the right way. We won't rush it. We're working with everyone to make healthcare better.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to make it very clear that it is never an inconvenience but always an honour to come to the House and debate important issues. I am never dragged here, because it is also my honour to debate important issues and work on behalf of all Canadians for the betterment of their health with the member opposite. Our government remains committed to building Canada strong by investing in healthy Canadians. That means protecting pharmacare agreements that provide access to contraception and vital medications while also keeping more money in the pockets of Canadians. We will continue to work with our partners on all sides, including the member opposite, to build a health care system that meets the needs of Canadians.

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“You're right, we should help Canadians afford medicine. Our government has made some progress on pharmacare in some provinces. But we can't rush into this. There are a lot of factors to consider. We need to talk to the provinces and think about the global context. We'll keep working on it. I want Canadians to be healthy.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my friend the member for Courtenay—Alberni has long been a strong advocate for better health outcomes in his community and across Canada, and I am honoured and fortunate to work with him in the House for the betterment of Canadian health outcomes. Those outcomes are possible thanks to our investments in health care, just as yesterday's spring economic statement was our government's next step in our plan to build a stronger, more independent and resilient Canada. We know that we are only stronger and more resilient if we have healthy Canadians, which is something I think everybody here agrees on. That is why our government came to office with the pledge to protect existing pharmacare agreements. We know the role that they play in keeping Canadians healthy. In fact, starting last month, my colleague's constituents in British Columbia are seeing the effects of their province's pharmacare agreements first-hand, since it came into effect on March 1. Thanks to this agreement, more Canadians have free and low-cost access to a range of contraceptives; Canadians living with diabetes can get essential, life-saving drugs for their condition; and Canadians are keeping more money in their pockets while improving their health outcomes. I know the member opposite would like us to go full speed ahead, but recent years have taught us that we need to be mindful of the broader context, both within Canada and beyond our borders, as we make decisions and as we consider the changing fiscal environment, how policy decisions in other countries impact our pharmaceutical supply and what we hear from our provincial and territorial partners. All of these things matter. For our part, our government will continue to control what we can. That means working closely with our health partners, including provinces, territories and indigenous people, to see how we can help them deliver health care for all Canadians. As we have always said, we cannot build Canada strong without healthy Canadians.

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“The other side keeps asking about healthcare for failed claimants. I won't give a clear answer. I'll just say it's a small temporary bridge program. It doesn't decide wait lists. Paranoid people might avoid doctors without it. Our big government program saves money in the end. Claims are down anyway. We passed a bill with the word 'sustainable' in the name.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the interim federal health program provides temporary limited coverage until beneficiaries are eligible for a comparable provincial or territorial health insurance. It is a bridge, not a substitute, and it does not determine placement on health care wait-lists, which are managed from provinces and territories based on medical needs. Without that bridge, vulnerable individuals may delay seeking care, which can increase the risk to public health and wait times in hospitals and emergency rooms. In this way, the IFHP actually helps reduce pressure on our health system. The program is tightly managed and only available to those who qualify. Comparing January and February 2024 to the same period this year, we also see that asylum claims are down by almost two-thirds. Recent measures and legislation such as Bill C-12 ensure the IFHP remains fair, targeted and sustainable.

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“I want Canadians to know that our government is spending money on healthcare for asylum seekers in a fair and responsible way. The program is temporary and limited, and it's important for public health. We are trying to reduce the number of asylum claims and the time people spend in the system. The program is well-managed and we are introducing co-payments to keep it sustainable. This will save money in the long run.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Canadians rightly expect public programs to be fair, responsible and sustainable. They expect that when people are seeking protection in Canada but are not eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance, the government manages that transition in a way that protects public health while maintaining the integrity of our health care system. That is the role of the interim federal health program, a program that has existed in some form since the 1940s. The IFHP provides temporary limited health coverage to certain migrants in Canada who are not eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance, including those who are waiting for a final decision on their asylum claims or for their removal to be safely carried out. The program exists to ensure access to urgent and essential services. Without it, vulnerable people may delay seeking care, which can lead to more serious health issues, higher costs later on and added pressure on emergency rooms and public health. That is why the program must be understood as both a public health measure and a system management tool. Let me be clear. The IFHP does not determine who is ahead or behind on health care wait-lists. Those decisions are made by provinces and territories based on medical needs. IFHP beneficiaries face the same wait times as all other residents. The IFHP provides health coverage, not faster or better access to health care. Moreover, the health needs of those seeking protection in Canada are important principles behind the program, and those who have filed asylum claims have the right to due process, which includes the right to appeal. The IFHP is tightly managed. All claims are monitored, audited and subject to integrity controls so that the program remains available only to those who qualify. Pressures on the IFHP are largely driven by higher asylum claim volumes and the length of time people remain in the system while awaiting a decision or removal. That is why our government has also taken action to reduce pressures on the asylum system. These actions are working. Comparing January and February 2024 to the same period this year, asylum claims are down by almost two-thirds, and with Bill C-12, we introduced new eligibility and efficiency improvements, which will reduce the time individuals rely on temporary federal support. We also announced co-payments in budget 2025 to help keep supplemental health care accessible for eligible beneficiaries while responsibly managing growing demand. This will support the long-term sustainability of the program as it continues providing essential support to current and future beneficiaries. The co-pays, set to come into effect on May 1, could result in approximately $126.8 million in savings in 2026-27 and $231.9 million onwards. In short, the responsible way forward is not to create confusion about who is ahead in line. Instead, we need to keep the IFHP targeted and well managed to avoid increasing the burden on our publicly funded health system while reducing pressures through stronger system integrity and faster processing. That is exactly what our government is doing.

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Statements by Members

Career Colleges

2026-04-29

“I want taxpayers to spend more money on career colleges. I think that would be good.”

Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the important work of the National Association of Career Colleges and its member institutions. Career colleges are an important part of Canada's workforce strategy, delivering practical, hands-on training for jobs in high-demand sectors. Across the country, demand is growing for skilled workers in fields such as health care, skilled trades and technology. Career colleges are helping Canadians to build practical skills they will use on the job. This is where career colleges are making a real difference. They expand training capacity, respond quickly to evolving industry demands and create accessible pathways for working adults, newcomers and career changers, people who are ready to contribute and succeed. As we look to the future, supporting the institutions that are training Canadians for in-demand careers will remain essential to our plan to build Canada strong for all.

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Oral Questions

Health

2026-04-24

“PrescribeIT was tried before and didn't work. But I won't address the cost or what went wrong. I just want to talk about a new bill that spends more of your money on vaguely related things.”

“The other party started this program. It did not work out. Now we cancelled it. We are bringing a new plan to spend money on. This will fix everything.”