Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge MP Marc Dalton is highlighting a federal report that shows healthcare spending for asylum seekers is expected to reach $1.5 billion per year by 2029 in British Columbia and across the country. The report from the Parliamentary Budget Officer explains that costs for this specific health program are rising as more people use the service.
According to the report, the number of people receiving benefits from the federal program grew from about 200,000 in 2021 to more than 624,000 in 2025. The Conservative Party of Canada is now calling for a formal investigation into the costs associated with coverage for individuals whose applications to stay in Canada were already rejected.
Dalton noted that a proposal to get more information and a deeper analysis of the $1.5 billion spending was recently voted down by other members of the federal health committee. He is inviting local residents to share their input on government accountability and how tax money is being used by contacting his office.
The program provides temporary medical coverage to refugees and asylum seekers who do not have provincial or territorial health insurance yet. The Parliamentary Budget Officer predicts that these costs will continue to rise each year until at least the 2028-2029 fiscal year.
