Canada's Immigration and Refugee System in Disarray
Canada's immigration, refugee, and asylum system has long been plagued by inefficiencies and failures, with recent data highlighting alarming trends. Prime Minister Mark Carney's cabinet ministers have frequently accused the Conservatives of racism when they question the system, a claim that many find absurd given the pressing issues at hand.
Critical Failures in the System
The federal government has lost track of approximately 30,000 individuals scheduled for deportation, some of whom have been convicted of serious offences. This oversight raises significant security concerns and undermines public trust in immigration enforcement.
Since 2020, almost nine in ten rejected asylum seekers—55,320 out of 63,436, or 87%—remain in Canada. Among those who have undergone the refugee appeal process, more than eight in ten, or 26,153 out of 31,631, are still present in the country.
Backlog and Processing Delays
The current backlog of refugee claims stands at nearly 300,000, leading to severe delays in processing. As a result, tens of thousands of applications have been approved based solely on paperwork, without the benefit of an oral hearing. This expedited process compromises the integrity of the system and may overlook critical details.
With claims typically taking two years or longer to resolve, claimants require support for basic necessities, including healthcare. The interim federal health program, initiated in 2016, provides health benefits to refugee claimants, including those whose claims have been rejected. Initially costing $60 million for less than 100,000 claimants, the program's expenses have skyrocketed.
Escalating Costs and Proposed Reforms
According to the parliamentary budget officer, the program now costs almost $1 billion for over 600,000 claimants, with projections indicating it could exceed $1.5 billion by 2029-30. This financial burden on taxpayers has sparked calls for reform.
The Conservatives, through immigration critic MP Michelle Rempel Garner, have proposed a sensible plan to review the program. Their recommendations include finding savings, restricting health benefits for rejected claimants to emergency care only, and immediately deporting non-citizens convicted of serious crimes.
Political Responses and Historical Context
Even the Liberals acknowledge that the system requires fixing and have introduced various half-measures. However, their accusations against the Conservatives seem contradictory given their own admissions of systemic flaws.
Many of these issues trace back to a 1985 Supreme Court of Canada decision that extended Charter protections to non-citizens, effectively applying to almost everyone who arrives in the country, regardless of their method of entry. Successive governments have failed to adequately address the implications of this ruling.
Proposals to reform the system are not rooted in racism but in common sense, which has been notably lacking in this area. As costs mount and backlogs grow, the need for effective and fair immigration policies becomes increasingly urgent.
