Ottawa has spent upwards of $275 million in the last 10 years on health coverage for asylum seekers whose claims were turned down by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, the immigration department says.
The information was disclosed following an order paper inquiry by Conservative MP Burton Bailey.
The government’s reply tracks the use of the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP), which finances health care expenses for refugee claimants across fiscal years 2016-2017 through 2024-2025.
“Since 2016, the Liberal government has paid health expenses for over 130,000 rejected refugee claimants costing taxpayers over $275 million under the Interim Federal Health Program,” Bailey said in an April 22 X post. “This, while Canadians cannot get access to basic healthcare services.”…