The Conservative Party has introduced a motion in the House of Commons seeking significant changes to how health benefits are provided to asylum seekers in Canada, alongside measures to expedite the removal of foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced the proposal in a video posted on Feb. 23, arguing that Canada’s current system places undue strain on public services. He said the motion would require the federal government to review the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) and limit access to benefits for certain refugee claimants, particularly those whose asylum requests have been denied.
In a statement Poilievre said, “We can’t allow foreign criminals to take advantage of our system or false refugee claims to overwhelm the services that Canadians pay for,”.
The move comes amid growing debate over the cost of the IFHP, a federal program that provides temporary health coverage to asylum seekers, refugees, and protected persons. Services under the program include hospital care, medical treatments, prescription drugs, urgent dental procedures, and vision care.
A report released Feb. 12 by the parliamentary budget officer found that IFHP expenditures have surged in recent years. Costs rose from $211 million in the 2020–21 fiscal year to a projected $896 million in 2024–25 more than quadrupling in four years. The report forecasts annual spending could reach $1.5 billion by 2028–29.
The number of beneficiaries has also increased sharply. Approximately 624,000 people are expected to receive IFHP coverage in 2024–25, compared to about 200,000 in 2020–21. Most beneficiaries are asylum claimants. The average annual cost per asylum claimant stands at $1,645, significantly higher than the $347 average cost for overseas resettled refugees.
Conservatives argue that the rising costs come at a time when many Canadians face long waits for medical care. Poilievre pointed to statistics suggesting millions of Canadians do not have access to a family doctor and that specialist wait times can stretch for months.
Under the proposed motion, rejected asylum claimants would continue to receive life-saving emergency medical treatment but would lose access to what the party describes as “special care.” The motion also calls for ensuring that non-citizens and non-permanent residents do not receive health benefits that exceed those available to Canadians.
In addition to health policy changes, the Conservatives are pressing for stronger deportation measures. The motion urges judges to allow the removal of non-citizen foreign nationals who commit violent crimes. Current laws already permit the deportation of permanent residents or foreign nationals convicted of offences punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years or more, or those who receive a prison sentence exceeding six months.
During question period on Feb. 23, Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel Garner criticized government spending on housing and financial support for what she called “false refugee claimants,” while Canadians struggle to access basic health services. She repeatedly pressed Liberal ministers on whether they would support the motion.
Immigration Minister Lena Diab responded that the government has already implemented reforms to reduce IFHP costs and improve oversight. She pointed to recently introduced legislation aimed at streamlining the asylum process and reducing misuse of the system.
Diab said “We will control costs and protect those who are truly vulnerable, in line with our international and humanitarian obligations,”, adding that further measures are underway to restore stability to Canada’s immigration system.
The broader debate unfolds against a backdrop of rapid population growth. Canada’s population has increased by more than three million people between 2020 and 2025, driven by rising numbers of permanent residents, temporary workers, and international students. In response, the federal government has begun scaling back immigration targets, including reducing the proportion of temporary residents in the population over the next three years.
While asylum claims dropped in 2025 compared to the previous year falling from roughly 190,000 to about 108,000 the political divide over immigration levels and public spending remains sharp. With the Conservative motion now before Parliament, the issue is likely to spark further debate over how Canada balances humanitarian commitments with domestic pressures on public services.
