Deluxe Benefits for Fake Refugees, Speed Deportations
Conservatives slam ‘bogus’ asylum claims draining billions in perks while 6 million locals wait for a family doctor.
Let’s dive into the Conservative Party of Canada’s fiery stance on how refugee claimants are allegedly abusing social benefits, all while everyday Canadians get shortchanged on similar services. The Tories are hammering the Liberals for creating a system they say is wide open to fraud, with bogus claims draining billions in taxpayer cash that could help struggling locals instead.
Pierre Poilievre, the Conservative leader, doesn’t mince words. He blasts, “Liberals opened up our borders and are rubberstamping refugee claims. The system is rife with abuse with the backlog exploding by nearly 3000%.” That backlog? It’s ballooned from about 10,000 cases in 2015 to around 300,000 now, a whopping 2902% jump, per party stats. Poilievre adds that this chaos overloads housing, jobs, and healthcare, hitting regular folks hard. He contrasts it with “real refugees” like his wife, who fled real danger, versus “people who lie to come into our country.”
The big beef is with programs like the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which hooks up asylum seekers with healthcare perks. Costs have skyrocketed from $66 million in 2016 to over $821 million in 2024, with estimates pegging it at more than $1.5 billion a year soon. We’re talking extras like vision care, physiotherapy, home care, and speech therapy, racking up $456 million in 2024 alone. User numbers exploded from 85,000 to 427,000.
Shadow health minister Dan Mazier calls it outrageous, saying, “Six million Canadians don’t have a family doctor, yet rejected claimants get superior benefits.” Michelle Rempel Garner, shadow immigration minister, piles on: “Bogus asylum seekers shouldn’t get better perks amid our crises.”
Conservatives point out the irony. While Canadians face endless ER waits and doctor shortages, failed claimants linger on appeals for 44 months, scooping full federal benefits. They blame Liberal expansions post-2015, reversing Harper-era restrictions. Poilievre warns of “revolving-door bail” letting non-citizen criminals dodge deportation by abusing claims.
Their plan? Amendments to Bill C-12 to bar claims from serious criminals, strip non-emergency benefits from rejected folks, and speed deportations. They’d cap asylum numbers, prioritize economic immigrants and true refugees, and boost oversight to curb exploitation. Rempel Garner sums it up: “Protect genuine refugees while removing abusers.” In tough times, Conservatives argue this puts Canadians first, fixing a “broken” setup before it bankrupts us. Critics cry human rights foul, but with costs soaring and services strained, the party bets voters want reform now.
BACKGROUNDER
The Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) is a federal program run by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It provides limited, temporary health care coverage to certain groups who aren’t yet eligible for provincial or territorial health insurance, like refugee claimants (asylum seekers), protected persons, resettled refugees, and some others (e.g., victims of human trafficking or family violence with a temporary resident permit).The IFHP acts as a bridge until people qualify for provincial/territorial plans (often after getting permanent status or settling in). Coverage is automatic based on immigration status, no separate application needed, and it’s only for urgent or essential care. Services must come from providers registered with the program (administered by Medavie Blue Cross).Main Types of CoverageThe program divides benefits into basic and supplemental categories (plus some pre-departure services for resettled refugees before they arrive in Canada).
- Basic Coverage (fully covered, no co-payments required):
This mirrors standard provincial health insurance and includes:- Hospital services (inpatient and outpatient)
- Doctor visits and services from medical doctors
- Services from registered nurses and other licensed health professionals (including pre- and post-natal care)
- Ambulance services
- Laboratory and diagnostic tests (e.g., blood tests, ultrasounds, X-rays)
- Supplemental Coverage (extended benefits, with changes starting May 1, 2026):
This covers extras similar to what some provinces provide for social assistance recipients. Examples include:- Prescription medications (aligned with provincial public drug plans) Vision care (e.g., one pair of eyewear every 24 months, eye exams every 12 months) Urgent/emergency dental care (limited to pain, infection, or trauma relief, not routine or ongoing care; some treatments need prior approval) Mental health services (e.g., psychologists, counselling therapists) Allied health professionals (e.g., physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists) Home care and long-term care Assistive devices, medical supplies, and equipment (e.g., hearing aids, with limits)
- $4 per eligible prescription medication filled or refilled 30% of the cost for other supplemental services/products (e.g., dental, vision, counselling, assistive devices)
The IFHP doesn’t cover everything (e.g., no elective procedures, no services claimable under private insurance or provincial plans once eligible). Some benefits have dollar/frequency limits, require prescriptions, or need prior approval from Medavie Blue Cross.For the most up-to-date details, check the official IRCC page on coverage or the IFHP benefit grids on the Medavie Blue Cross site, as specifics can vary by eligibility group and province. This program aims to support vulnerable newcomers during transition, but it’s temporary and focused on essentials.
