Health-benefit cuts for refugees hidden in budget bill
Critics cry foul as government admits move kept the issue immune from scrutiny
OTTAWA — A controversial decision to strip certain refugee claimants of supplementary health benefits was apparently made behind closed doors without consultation, the government now admits.
Rick Dykstra, the parliamentary secretary to Immigration Minister Jason Kenney, revealed this week that the cuts were actually part of the government’s budget tabled in March. But because budget deliberations are subject to secrecy, there was no option to get input from stakeholders, many of whom have vocally opposed the decision.
“The current reform of the (Interim Federal Health Program) was part of the economic action plan, budget 2012, and was under budget secrecy; therefore, no consultation took place with provincial and territorial governments or medical and health care associations prior to the policy decision being made,” Dykstra said.
Dykstra, however, argued the government has for years heard from Canadians calling for an end to the “generous” health benefits that asylum seekers get and that average Canadians don’t. Also, members of the Citizenship and Immigration Canada health branch, he said, are qualified to advise on the matter.
“The health branch within CIC is composed of health care professionals with various backgrounds, including doctors and nurses,” he said. “CIC’s health branch has the necessary expertise and is responsible for the management of the immigration medical examination worldwide as well as the Interim Federal Health Program.”
The revelation, which was made in response to a written question in the House of Commons, came as a surprise to the opposition, who were appalled by the government’s reasons for its abrupt policy change.
“I think it’s absolutely garbage. I couldn’t believe the response I got on that one,” said Kevin Lamoureux, the Liberal immigration critic who asked the question.
“At the end of the day, the minister of immigration, who failed on this whole issue and should listen to what all the stakeholders are saying and admit that he screwed up quite frankly, he didn’t do any consultation.
“And now he tries to pass on that he couldn’t do it because it was part of the budget? ”
NDP immigration critic Jinny Sims said she was told the policy change had nothing to do with the budget and suggested the late-day excuse is another example of “a government that is making it up as they go along.”