The Liberal government is asking Parliament for over $400 million in new funding for a program that provides healthcare for asylum seekers despite the program receiving steady increases in funding yearly.
According to supplementary estimates for increased funding for the fiscal year 2024/2024, the government is asking for $411.2 million in new spending to fund its Interim Federal Health Program which provides healthcare benefits to asylum seekers and refugees.
The IFHP covers some pre-departure medical services and health care for refugees and asylum seekers. It also covers the cost of medical exams, vaccines, and medical support for travel for claimants before they arrive in Canada. The program also pays costs associated with health measures during disease outbreaks.
For refugee claimants, resettled refugees, and protected persons in Canada, the Canadian taxpayer covers hospital services, diagnostic and ambulance services, and services from healthcare professionals licensed in Canada, including pre-and post-natal care.
With some limits, the program also covers dental and prescription drug costs.
As reported by the CBC, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada credits the need for a rise in funding to the program to Canada’s elevated asylum claims volumes.
From January to September of this year, Canada processed 52,985 refugee claims, surpassing the amount processed in all of last year. In the same period, Canada processed 132,525 asylum applications, nearly as many as the 144,950 claimed in all of last year.
Just last week, Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced an abuse in the asylum claim system as record numbers of international students apply for refugee status in Canada. Miller suspects many of the students are being counselled to lie about their needs as a shortcut to gain permanent residency in the country.
In 2016, the Liberals restored the IFHP, which Prime Minister Steven Harper initially cancelled, though the program’s cost totalled only $60 million.
Year after year, the government continued to call for additional funding for the program, which ballooned by hundreds of millions of dollars.
In 2019/20, the Liberals requested $125.1 million in yearly spending for the IFHP. By 2021-2022, the program had gone from $327.7 million to the government requesting $411.2 million in yearly spending.
This comes after Trudeau admitted his immigration policies have put a strain on health care, housing, and the economy. And his immigration minister, Marc Miller vowed to reduce immigration volumes.
Also in a bid to support the high volumes of newcomers, the Department of Citizenship and Immigration is requesting $314.5 million in annual spending for the Interim Housing Assistance program.
The IHAP is designed to help provinces deal with the “downstream impact of asylum flows” by providing housing.
In total, the Liberals are asking for $951.5 million in additional funding for the Department of Citizenship and Immigration for 2024/25.