OTTAWA — Conservatives plan to table a House of Commons motion on Tuesday that would review how health benefits are provided to asylum seekers and tighten access to those services.
The motion targets the Interim Federal Health Program. It is a federal plan that covers medical services for asylum seekers, refugees and other protected people while they are in Canada.
What the Conservative motion would change
The text, shared with The Canadian Press, calls for a review of benefits to find savings. It also proposes limits for some people.
Under the motion, asylum seekers appealing a rejected claim would only receive emergency, life-saving care. In other words, routine and supplemental coverage would be restricted during the appeal phase.
The motion also asks for an annual report to Parliament on how the program is used. It puts special attention on supplemental benefits, which are not generally covered for Canadians.
Costs have surged since 2020, according to the PBO
Conservatives point to recent figures from the parliamentary budget officer.
The motion says the program’s cost has more than quadrupled since the 2020 fiscal year. It cites growth from $211 million to $896 million in 2024-25.
A report published earlier this month projects annual costs could reach $1.5 billion by 2028-29.
What the Interim Federal Health Program covers
The federal program provides a range of health services. These include routine medical care, hospital visits and lab work.
It also offers supplemental coverage. That includes urgent dental procedures, some vision care, psychological therapy and prescription drugs.
Supplemental benefits are often at the centre of political debate. They can cover services that many Canadians pay for through private insurance or out of pocket.
More people are using the program
The PBO report estimates about 624,000 people were beneficiaries in 2024-25. That is up from about 200,000 in 2020-21.
The report says most beneficiaries are asylum claimants. At the same time, the Immigration and Refugee Board has about 300,000 pending asylum claims.
Federal immigration data shows claims fell in 2025 compared with 2024. The number dropped by about a third, from roughly 190,000 to almost 108,000.
Ottawa is adding a co-pay for supplemental benefits
The federal government is changing how the program is funded.
Starting May 1, claimants will pay part of the cost for supplemental coverage and prescription drugs. A notice published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says the co-pay will be 30 per cent for services such as dental care, vision care, counselling and assistive medical devices.
The same notice says there will also be a $4 charge for each eligible prescription filled or refilled.
These measures were announced in the November federal budget. They are part of IRCC’s effort to find 15 per cent savings over the next three years.
The parliamentary budget officer did not include the co-pay changes in the cost projection. The report cited time and data limits.
A past cut and reversal still shapes the debate
Former prime minister Stephen Harper restricted supplemental coverage under the program for some groups, including privately sponsored refugee claimants and people who made claims after arriving in Canada.
That policy was reversed after the Liberals defeated the Conservatives in the 2015 election.
A separate demand on removals after serious crimes
The Conservative motion also calls on the government to immediately expel foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes in Canada.
Canada already has laws that allow deportation in certain cases. That can apply to foreign nationals and permanent residents convicted of offences with maximum sentences of 10 years, even if the sentence imposed is shorter. It can also apply to people sentenced to more than six months in prison.
People facing removal under these rules can access appeal options, which can lengthen the process. The motion signals Conservatives want tougher limits alongside a broader review of federally funded health coverage for asylum seekers.
