Madam Speaker, first, we have seen that the government's efforts to “expedite” asylum claimants means rubber-stamping applicants from hostile nations like North Korea and Afghanistan without an in-person interview. That is not acceptable.
Second, the province of Quebec has seen an inordinate explosion of asylum claimants, many of them false, because the government has still not put in place more tightened restrictions to prevent illegal border crossings.
Third, this measure today will also reduce the incentives for people to continue to abuse the system. If people know that their asylum claim will be rejected and they will not receive premium health benefits, fewer people will be inclined to continue to abuse the system. That is why this measure is needed, particularly for the province of Quebec.