The federal Conservatives are set to introduce a motion in the House of Commons aimed at reviewing health benefits for asylum seekers and tightening deportation rules for foreign nationals convicted of crimes.
Pierre Poilievre outlined the party’s position in a social media video, arguing that the system is being strained by what he described as false refugee claims and foreign criminals accessing taxpayer-funded services. The motion, expected to be tabled Tuesday, calls for a formal review of how benefits are delivered and for limits on who qualifies.
At the centre of the debate is the Interim Federal Health Program, which provides medical coverage to asylum seekers, refugees and other protected persons. The program covers routine doctor visits, hospital care and lab services, as well as supplementary benefits such as urgent dental work, limited vision care, psychological therapy and prescription medications.
A recent report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer projects that costs for the program could reach $1.5 billion annually by 2028–29. The report estimates approximately 624,000 people were beneficiaries in 2024–25, up sharply from about 200,000 in 2020–21. Most beneficiaries are asylum claimants.
The Conservatives’ motion proposes reviewing supplementary benefits in search of savings and limiting claimants appealing rejected applications to emergency, life-saving coverage only. It also calls for an annual public report to Parliament detailing program usage, particularly supplementary services that are not typically covered for Canadian citizens.
The immigration system continues to face significant backlogs. The Immigration and Refugee Board currently has roughly 300,000 pending asylum claims. However, data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada shows asylum claims fell by about one-third in 2025 compared with 2024, dropping from roughly 190,000 to just under 108,000.
The federal government has already announced cost-containment measures. Beginning May 1, asylum claimants will be required to pay 30 per cent of supplementary health-care costs — including dental, vision and counselling services — along with a $4 co-pay per prescription. These changes were introduced in the November federal budget as part of efforts to reduce departmental spending by 15 per cent over three years. The Parliamentary Budget Officer did not factor these measures into its cost projections due to timing and data constraints.
The Conservative motion also focuses on criminality and deportation. Poilievre said his party wants judges to impose full sentences on foreign nationals convicted of crimes and ensure complete deportation after sentences are served. Current Canadian law already permits removal of foreign nationals and permanent residents convicted of offences carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years or more, or for individuals sentenced to more than six months in prison, though those facing removal retain appeal rights.
The motion is expected to intensify debate in Parliament over the balance between humanitarian obligations, fiscal responsibility and public safety as Canada grapples with high asylum volumes and growing pressure on public services.