Conservatives Demand Fairness in Refugee Health Plan Amid Soaring Costs
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is intensifying pressure on Prime Minister Mark Carney's Liberal government to overhaul what he describes as a broken refugee health plan that provides superior benefits to asylum claimants compared to Canadian citizens. The controversy centers on the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which has seen its costs skyrocket from $60 million in 2016 to nearly $1 billion this year, while covering over 600,000 individuals, including many whose refugee claims have been rejected.
Program Benefits Exceed Provincial Standards
The IFHP currently offers comprehensive health coverage that goes beyond most provincial plans. In addition to basic medical services like doctor visits, hospital stays, and ambulance services, the program covers:
- Psychological counseling and therapy sessions
- Occupational, physio, and speech language therapies
- Assistive devices including prosthetics and hearing aids
- Home care and long-term care services
- Urgent dental and limited vision care
- All prescription medications without co-pays for most claimants
This extensive coverage has drawn criticism from Conservative officials who argue that Canadian taxpayers are funding benefits that many citizens themselves cannot access through their provincial health plans.
Explosive Cost Growth and Political Response
The program's financial trajectory has become a flashpoint in parliamentary debates. According to parliamentary budget officer projections, the IFHP could reach $1.5 billion in annual costs by 2030 if current trends continue. Poilievre highlighted that program costs have increased by more than 1,000% over the past decade while the number of beneficiaries has grown sixfold.
"The motion would force a review and a cutback in benefits to asylum claimants to ensure that non-citizens and non-permanent residents do not get superior health benefits than Canadians," Poilievre stated in a recent online video. "Second, it would ensure that those asylum claimants who are here and have been rejected only get life-saving emergency care and not special care."
Liberal Government's Defensive Position
Health Minister Lena Diab defended the government's approach, pointing to recent modifications aimed at controlling costs. "We have already introduced and made changes to the Interim Federal Health Program that will considerably reduce the costs," Diab responded during question period. "We are also making significant changes and have introduced Bill C-12, which will curb the misuse of asylum."
The Liberal government's adjustments include implementing a $4 co-payment for prescription drugs and requiring 30% co-payments for services like dental care and physiotherapy. However, critics note that these measures still leave the government covering 70% of costs for services that most Canadians pay for out-of-pocket or through private insurance.
Immigration Backlog Compounds the Issue
The health program controversy unfolds against a backdrop of immigration system challenges. While the government boasts of reducing new asylum claims by 30% from 2024 levels, a substantial backlog persists. At the end of 2025, 299,614 asylum cases remained pending, compared to just 10,000 in 2016 when only 16,592 people claimed asylum.
Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner challenged the government's commitment to fairness, asking: "Will the Liberals support our constructive motion to restore fairness and prioritize Canadians who pay for the health-care system over fake refugees?"
The Conservative motion, scheduled for a House of Commons vote, represents a significant test for the Carney government's immigration and health policies. With program costs continuing to escalate and public scrutiny intensifying, the debate over refugee health benefits appears poised to remain a contentious political issue through the coming parliamentary session.
