Mr. Chair, before I begin my formal speech, I would like to take a moment to thank the people of Moncton—Dieppe, who have given me the privilege of serving them in the House of Commons for a fourth time.
I would also like to take a moment to thank my team of volunteers, who worked tirelessly to ensure that the election went well once again. I also want to thank my campaign co-managers, Jake and Dan, and the hundreds of volunteers who made calls, knocked on doors and put up signs throughout our wonderful riding. Lastly, I would like to give a special shout-out to my husband, Brock, who has been by my side for over 30 years. He is probably my hardest-working volunteer, and I want to thank him once again from the bottom of my heart.
This evening, I am pleased to have the opportunity to discuss Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's funding requests in the main estimates for 2025-26. Canada's ability to attract global talent, fill critical labour shortage and grow our economy depends on a well-run, forward-thinking immigration system. Whether supporting workers in health care and construction or helping businesses find people with the skills they need to grow, immigration remains a vital economic lever across our country. At the same time, the system must also be equipped to respond to growing humanitarian pressures. This dual responsibility is reflected in the main estimates that are before us.
More people are being forced from their home countries by conflict, persecution and climate disasters than at any time in recent history. At the same time, we are decreasing our immigration targets to more sustainable and responsible levels. This creates a challenge. As volumes grow and application streams diversify, the department must maintain timely and fair decision-making, while investing in tools and systems that support greater efficiency and long-term capacity. The investments the government is requesting are designed to meet urgent humanitarian needs, while creating operational improvements and long-term savings.
Today's main estimates reflect these realities. They include both critical funding increases in areas under acute pressure and reductions in areas where demand has stabilized or where the department has achieved efficiencies. Let me talk members through both sides of this equation.
First of all, the department seeks additional funding for the interim federal health program. This program provides basic but essential health care coverage to a range of vulnerable individuals, most notably asylum claimants, from the time they make their claim until they either transition to provincial health care or leave Canada. However, this is not just about managing current caseloads. The investments the government is making in system modernization and processing efficiency will reduce the time people spend in Canada's asylum system, which directly reduces per case costs over time. Faster, fairer decisions lead to a range of benefits, from more efficient use of interim health services to quicker outcomes for individuals and better planning for provinces as people transition through the system.
Second, the interim housing assistance program, or as we like to refer to it, IHAP, provides funding to provinces and municipal governments to address interim housing pressures due to increased volumes of asylum claimants. This program has evolved significantly from its original form, which was focused on emergency shelters and hotel placements. Crisis response is not only more expensive; it is less helpful for both claimants and communities. The renewed IHAP model prioritizes building reception centres and sustainable temporary housing. The shift represents a fundamental change in how we think about these investments. Instead of paying recurring emergency costs year after year, the government is supporting jurisdictions in building infrastructure that serves multiple purposes and creates lasting value.
Our collaborative approach with provinces and territories has enabled innovative solutions. Take the voluntary relocation initiative, for example, in partnership with Newfoundland and Labrador and my home province of New Brunswick. Supporting asylum claimants who choose to relocate from where they initially arrived is helping to address housing pressures in high-demand areas like Ontario and Quebec, while providing claimants with more stability and opportunities during their time in Canada. This program has been very beneficial in my home province of New Brunswick.
Both claimants and the communities that welcome them benefit. Claimants get appropriate housing and employment opportunities through access to temporary work permits, while communities get a chance to address their short-term labour needs. We certainly know, in Atlantic Canada, we are always facing labour force challenges. Crucially, the interim housing assistance program helps distribute the responsibility for supporting asylum claimants more equitably across the country. Rather than allowing unsustainable pressure to build in a few jurisdictions, we are creating a system that works for everyone.
Third is digital platform modernization. This initiative represents exactly the kind of upfront investments that generate significant operational savings downstream. Through this initiative, IRCC has been introducing streamlined online platforms that offer clients simpler application processes and real-time updates. The online passport renewal service is a perfect example. It is proving to be a convenient alternative that reduces the pressure on clients to go to physical offices and endure long lineups. The efficiency gains go well beyond the client experience. Digital solutions like automation and smart technology reduce paperwork, speed up decisions and build the department's capacity to handle surges in demand without proportional increases in staff. These system improvements will pay dividends for years to come.
Finally, the department seeks to increase funding to sustain and expand its biometrics collection capabilities. This investment in secure identity verification would help prevent fraud and processing delays, which are far more expensive to address after the fact. As the department extends fingerprint and photo requirements to more programs, including citizenship, both security and processing efficiencies will be enhanced.
The necessary increases in funding requests are offset somewhat by reductions in spending in overall key areas. As expected, Canada's lower immigration targets mean the department can reduce its operational spending over the next three years. The cap on study permits and study applications, tightened controls on various permit streams and changes to the temporary foreign worker program are all reducing processing demands in these areas. This is not just about fewer applications. It is about more manageable and sustainable volumes that allow the department to maintain service standards under less pressure.
IRCC's crisis response programs are also maturing in ways that reduce costs. The programs supporting Afghan and Ukrainian nationals have evolved to require less operational support as the initial surge phase is behind us. The approach to new and ongoing situations, like in Gaza and Sudan, reflect lessons learned. These tailored approaches, combining family reunification pathways, work permits, study permits and status extensions, balance humanitarian needs with operational efficiency.
The pattern here is clear: IRCC is requiring less in the way of reactive, crisis-driven funding and more for strategic investments that build capacity and create efficiencies and savings over the long term. The interim housing assistance program is moving from expensive hotel stays to sustainable infrastructure. Digital modernization reduces the need for time-consuming manual processing as semi-automated systems become more reliable tools. Better biometric capabilities prevent problems rather than fixing them after they occur.
This is not just about managing the current situation. It is about building systems that will serve Canada well as the global landscape continues to evolve. Every dollar we invest in sustainable infrastructure and digital efficiency reduces the cost to Canadians in future years.
These estimates represent a responsible approach to managing unprecedented challenges when it comes to immigration. They are designed to maintain Canada's humanitarian leadership while building the efficient, modern and fair systems that Canadians expect and newcomers deserve. The investments the department is requesting would help Canada respond to global displacement pressures while creating the operational efficiencies that reduce long—