The federal government has introduced health co-payments for asylum seekers and refugee claimants, along with a 10-hour cap on mental health sessions, as part of efforts to control the skyrocketing costs of the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP).
Government Cuts Mental Health Sessions
On June 22, the CBC reported that the government "quietly" implemented a 10-hour limit on mental health counselling for these groups. Previously, no cap existed, allowing potentially unlimited sessions. The story lamented the change, but some view it as a necessary step to curb a massive taxpayer-funded expense.
A February report by the parliamentary budget officer estimated that IFHP costs would reach $1 billion in 2025-26 and soar to $1.5 billion by 2029-30 if left unchanged.
Case Study: Bahamas Refugee Claimant
The CBC quoted a person from the Bahamas who received 100 hours of mental health counselling over 16 months: "Being able to go to a mental health specialist, a therapist and just sit for an hour and express myself and vocalize my trauma and receive help, expanded for over a year — it was something I never had before."
The Bahamas is rated as "free" by Freedom House, scoring 90 out of 100 on liberty. Gay marriage is not legal there, but that was also the case in Canada 25 years ago. Critics question how someone from a democratic country qualifies as a refugee or asylum seeker.
Historical Context
In the past, immigrants from democratic countries signed a declaration not to be "a burden on society" and could not claim government benefits. The editorial argues that the current system has strayed from that principle, leading to unsustainable costs.
