Liberals fail to block audit of healthcare spending for asylum claimants

Liberal MPs attempted to block a motion to audit the Interim Federal Health Program. This program provides more health care services than the average Canadian receives to non-permanent residents, including individuals whose asylum claims have been denied.

During a House of Commons’ health committee meeting on Thursday, Conservatives brought forward a motion to summon the Auditor General and Parliamentary Budget Officer to “conduct a fiscal analysis” on the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) by early next year.

The motion calls on the auditor general to conduct a “comprehensive audit on the program to examine the significant increase in costs, usage and impacts on provincial healthcare systems” by February 7, 2026 and the Parliamentary Budget Officer to project “future expenses and assess the drivers behind recent significant cost and usage increases by January 30, 2026.” ---More...