Evidence of meeting #17 for Citizenship and Immigration in the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was you're.
A video is available from Parliament.
Conservative
Fred Davies Conservative Niagara South, ON
With the additional one-time payments, it actually exceeds what the average Canadian would get in CPP.
Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Protection and Family Programs Sector, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
I'm not in a position.... I have to look at the numbers.
Conservative
Fred Davies Conservative Niagara South, ON
Could you find that out for me and get back to me, please? I'd appreciate it.
I know I don't have much time left, Madam Chair.
Conservative
Fred Davies Conservative Niagara South, ON
Minister, we did talk about this, so I just want to return to it. Has your department done any analysis of the impact...? Is there any alternative business models or plans that deal with sudden influxes of refugees so we don't get another Niagara Falls?
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
We know the refugees we bring in. Canada brings them in through either government-assisted or privately.... We know the numbers. We can't have an influx because those numbers are known ahead of time.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you, Mr. Davies.
Thank you, Minister.
Our final three minutes go to Mr. Connors.
Your three minutes start now.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
Thank you.
Minister, I want to go back to the limited and temporary health care questions we had, because it was sort of insinuated that most of the budget goes to bogus immigrants who don't receive status or permanent residency. You probably don't have this number, but would the department be able to provide to the committee a breakdown of how much goes to the other types of individuals you mentioned who come in and the people who didn't receive residency?
Liberal
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
Let me talk a bit to the interim federal health program. The reason it's been high, obviously, is that asylum claim volumes have been high. The good news in 2025—and I will keep saying that—is that they are 33% lower than over the same time period last year. The demand is now decreasing. That is good news.
What we've announced in budget 2025 is that IRCC will introduce modest copayments for supplemental health products and services, including prescription medication and dental care, for beneficiaries covered under that program. We are waiting for this to be passed to implement it, which would be in line with what other people are getting.
Also, in fiscal year 2024-25, 6% of asylum claimants who used interim federal health programs had their claims fail. That's the percentage—6%.
Liberal
Lena Metlege Diab Liberal Halifax West, NS
I'm sorry. For some of them, the claim may not have failed. They may have abandoned it themselves.
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
Yes. Has the government made any changes to the program in response to that internal audit?
Liberal
Liberal
Paul Connors Liberal Avalon, NL
I'm going to finish off with this. Shark Tank was mentioned earlier in this hearing, and I don't think any host on Shark Tank treats people with the disrespect you were treated with here today.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dzerowicz
Thank you so much, Mr. Connors.
That concludes our testimony for today.
I want to thank you, Minister Diab, for being here with us. I also want to thank your entire team for being with us today and for answering questions.
For the committee, I have a question. Does the committee wish to vote now on the supplementary estimates (B), 2025-26?
