Conservative MP Dan Mazier says the Carney Liberals are blocking timely immigration data and delaying the parliamentary budget officer's investigation into the $800,000,000 Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP).
"Conservatives on the health committee forced this investigation after IFHP costs skyrocketed more than 1,200% under the Liberals," Mazier said in a social media statement.
"We uncovered that rejected refugee claimants were still receiving taxpayer-funded, supplemental health benefits like physiotherapy, speech therapy, and home care. Why is the government hiding the real cost of its immigration programs?"
Mazier posted a statement from Interim Parliamentary Budget Officer Jason Jacques on the matter. Jacques has earned a reputation for no-nonsense audits.
RE: Motion adopted by Committee requesting fiscal analysis of the Interim Federal Health ProgramDear
"Ms. Fry, As you may know, the Parliamentary Budget Officer supports Parliament by providing analysis of macroeconomic and fiscal policy for the purposes of raising the quality of parliamentary debate and promoting greater budget transparency and accountability."
"On November 20, 2025, the Standing Committee on Health adopted a Motion to, “instruct the chair to write to the Parliamentary Budget Officer requesting that he conducts a fiscal analysis of the Interim Federal Health Program to project future expenses and assess the drivers behind recent significant cost and usage increases by January 30, 2026”. Under section 79.4 of the Parliament of Canada Act (the Act), I am entitled, by request made to a head of a department or of a parent Crown corporation, to free and timely access to information under the control of the department or parent Crown corporation."
"On December 3, 2025, I sent an information request (IR 869) pursuant to section 79.4 to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requesting information related to the cost of the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) for the purposes of the Motion adopted by the Committee. On December 5, 2025, IRCC indicated that the information would not be provided before January 7, 2026. Unfortunately, I will not have adequate time to prepare my analysis to meet the Committee’s January 30th deadline. I kindly request an extension of the original deadline to February 13, 2026 contingent on suitable data being provided to my office on January 7th."
