Health

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Health met to study the impact of immigration policy on health care and barriers to integrating internationally trained professionals. The witnesses were Jason Jacques, Interim Parliamentary Budget Officer; Caroline Nicol, Advisor-Analyst; Louis Perrault, Director of Policy (Costing); and Jason Stanton, Advisor-Analyst, all from the Office of the Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO).

Jason Jacques stated that the PBO’s report projects total costs for the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) will reach almost $1 billion in 2025-26 and rise to over $1.5 billion by 2029-30, assuming current law and program parameters are respected. He noted the projection does not include the proposed co-payment model from Budget 2025 or changes in Bill C-12, and that the PBO is willing to undertake further analysis if requested by the committee.

Caroline Nicol explained that the cost growth is driven by both an increase in the number of beneficiaries and rising costs per beneficiary, with supplemental health benefits representing over 50% of total health expenditures in 2024-25 and growing. She confirmed that coverage for unsuccessful asylum claimants ends only when they leave Canada after exhausting all appeals, and that the average duration of coverage for asylum claimants is four years, based on IRCC data.

Louis Perrault noted that the PBO could conduct additional analysis on the impact of the co-payment policy and Bill C-12 if provided with more granular data. He also indicated that the PBO could monitor the effects of the co-payment changes after they take effect on May 1, 2026.

Jason Stanton clarified that administrative costs for the IFHP are largely related to the agreement with a third-party administrator, Blue Cross, and that additional funding for the program was allocated in the 2023, 2024, and 2025 budgets as temporary top-ups. He stated that the PBO did not seek data on the number of denied claimants still in Canada, as it was not required for the report.

During the question period, members debated a motion by Dan Mazier requesting the PBO to provide an updated report within three months, including analysis of the fiscal impact of Budget 2025 changes, supplemental benefits breakdown, cost implications by province, sensitivity to processing times, and other elements. After extensive procedural debate, including amendments and subamendments, the committee adjourned without a final vote on the motion.