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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

In question period, members debated the interim federal health program, which covers health care for asylum seekers. The Conservatives said taxpayers have spent $275 million over a decade on health care for rejected refugee claimants, and argued rejected claimants should not be in Canada or receive care while Canadians face long waits. The Liberals said the program has existed since the 1950s under both parties, that costs rose because more people were seeking asylum, that use has declined 43% as asylum claims fall, and that starting in May some people will pay part of their care; they also said blaming refugees for health system problems is misplaced.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Burton Bailey

Conservative
“Taxpayers have spent 275 million dollars on health care for 130,000 rejected refugee claimants over the last decade. Why does the government think this is okay?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Minister of Immigration had the gall to say that it is perfectly fine for Canadians to fund health care for scammers, rejected refugees claimants, because it is just “0.2% of the total health spending”. That is unbelievable. Over the past decade, more than 130,000 failed asylum claimants received better health care than Canadian taxpayers footing the $275‑million bill. Why is this acceptable to the Liberal government?

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Peter Fragiskatos

Liberal
“Both Conservative and Liberal governments have supported health care for asylum seekers for decades. The program costs more now because more people are seeking asylum here. We are working to lower costs by making people pay for part of their care starting in May.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the member is referring to the interim federal health program, a program that has been in existence since the 1950s, a program that has been supported by successive Conservative and Liberal governments. Yes, this program does provide health care for people seeking asylum. What have we seen since 2015? We have seen a mass displacement crisis across the world. Canada has seen a mass increase as a result of people seeking asylum in this country. The program’s costs obviously have grown dramatically since then. What have we done? We have worked to bring down costs, putting in place a copayment system that is going into effect in May.

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Burton Bailey

Conservative
“Canadians face long waits for health care while fake refugees get treatment. People whose refugee claims were rejected should not be in Canada, and they should not get better health care than Canadians. When will the government stop this?”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Signal 22 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberals should have to look in the eye the Canadians who cannot access health care, facing such long waits in hospitals that they are dying, and tell them that their place in the system they pay for is being bumped by a fake refugee taking advantage of them. As much as the minister enjoys manipulating what is said, the reality is that Canadians are getting worse health care than the scammers are. Rejected refugees, rejected for whatever reason, should not be in Canada, and they certainly should not be getting better health care than Canadians. When will it end?

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Peter Fragiskatos

Liberal

Linked statement

“Fewer asylum seekers are coming to Canada, so use of the federal health program for refugees is down. Refugees make up only one percent of our population. The Conservatives are wrong to blame them for problems in our health care system.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 43 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the use of the interim federal health program has declined by 43% quite recently. We will continue to see that, because we are seeing a dramatic decline in the number of people seeking asylum in this country. It is down by a third, in fact. Let us go one step further, though, and question the premise of the question. Refugees make up 1% of the country’s population. Are Conservatives trying to tell us seriously now that refugees are to blame for challenges in the health care system? The Conservatives demonize, they play right-wing politics and they embrace populism. It is no way forward. We will focus on Canadians.

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