Share this Story : Edmonton Journal Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Tasha Kheiriddin: Pierre Poilievre's deportation gamble

Conservative leader moves to secure the base

You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.

This week, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre released a video about the preferential treatment of asylum seekers in Canada. In it, he states that six million Canadians can’t get access to a family doctor and specialist wait times average 30 weeks. Then, he drops the kicker: rejected asylum claimants, who have never paid taxes, get free “deluxe supplementary heath care” such as physiotherapy, dental and eyecare that Canadian citizens have to pay for out of pocket.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.

Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.

Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.

Exclusive articles by David Staples, Keith Gerein and others, Oilers news from Cult of Hockey, Ask EJ Anything features, the Noon News Roundup and Under the Dome newsletters.

Unlimited online access to Edmonton Journal and 15 news sites with one account.

Edmonton Journal ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.

Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.

Support local journalism.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account.

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.

Enjoy additional articles per month.

Get email updates from your favourite authors.

Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.

Access articles from across Canada with one account

Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments

Enjoy additional articles per month

Get email updates from your favourite authors

Sign In or Create an Account

Poilievre is referring to  benefits available under the government’s Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP). It was designed to provide health care to persons fleeing persecution and war zones, such as the Syrian refugee crisis of 2015. But due to a flood of applicants and a massive backlog of claimants in the system — now estimated at 300,000 — the IFHP now costs taxpayers over $1 billion annually, and will rise to $1.5-billion for 680,000 eligible beneficiaries in 2029-30.

Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.

There was an error, please provide a valid email address.

By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.

A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.

The next issue of Headline News will soon be in your inbox.

We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again

Interested in more newsletters? Browse here.

The Parliamentary Budget Office reported these numbers two weeks ago. Someone likely noticed a problem earlier, however, because in Budget 2025, the Liberals require that claimants or their sponsors pay 30 per cent of the cost of supplementary care and $4 for drug prescriptions. But it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the actual cost.

So on Tuesday, the Conservatives presented a motion to curb these abuses. It would ensure that asylum seekers whose claims are rejected get only “life saving emergency care.” It would require judges to give full sentences to foreign nationals who commit crimes in Canada (lesser sentences can allow them to avoid deportation) to ensure “complete deportation” of non-citizens. “Enough is enough,” said Poilievre. “We can’t allow foreign criminals to take advantage of our system.”

Here’s the rub. Yes, it is unfair that refugees can access benefits unavailable to Canadian citizens. Why should asylum claimants get discount supplemental health care when millions of Canadians are lining up at food banks? Why should criminals get lower sentences, remain in the country, and get health care on the taxpayer’s dime? These things are wrong and must be remedied.

But as with most things in politics, communications matters. Timing and framing can decide whether an issue gets resolved or simply serves as an occasion to grandstand. And in the current case, I fear it’s the latter.

Deporting foreign criminals is exactly what US President Donald Trump promised to do during his 2024 election campaign. Since then, the word “deportation” has become a lightening rod, conjuring up images of American ICE agents detaining five-year-olds and shooting their own citizens. You can’t talk about this issue, and use the identical vocabulary, without being linked to the current administration in Washington.

McDavid not expected to rejoin Edmonton Oilers lineup right away Sports

McDavid not expected to rejoin Edmonton Oilers lineup right away

Why did Team Canada lose gold medal game? 'Big mistake': hockey commentators say Cult of Hockey

Why did Team Canada lose gold medal game? 'Big mistake': hockey commentators say

Advertisement 1Story continues belowThis advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.document.addEventListener(`DOMContentLoaded`,function(){let template=document.getElementById(`oop-ad-template`);if(template&&!template.dataset.adInjected){let clone=template.content.cloneNode(!0);template.replaceWith(clone),template.parentElement&&(template.parentElement.dataset.adInjected=`true`)}});

Ouch! Western conference rival trade for ex-Edmonton Oilers playoff ace Cult of Hockey

Ouch! Western conference rival trade for ex-Edmonton Oilers playoff ace

Finally! Struggling Edmonton Oilers forward likely to be traded this week, NHL insider says Cult of Hockey

Finally! Struggling Edmonton Oilers forward likely to be traded this week, NHL insider says

Lorne Gunter: Poll finds many Canadians misunderstand equalization Opinion

Lorne Gunter: Poll finds many Canadians misunderstand equalization

So why is Poilievre using this language? There are two possible answers: one, he and his comms people don’t see it, or two, they do — and are making a calculated appeal to MAGA-friendly voters in Canada.

This does a disservice to the very issue they are championing. The Conservatives know they aren’t going to get the changes they are asking for — but they will shore up their base, one third of which are Trump fans.

Why now? Poilievre’s party may have given him an 87 per cent endorsement at his policy convention, but he just lost another MP to the Liberals. His best frenemy, Durham MP Jamil Jivani, just returned from a White House meet-and-greet with his former law school buddy, Vice President J.D. Vance, which he warbled about all over social media. Caucus is grumbling at the prospect of Carney cobbling together a majority, leaving them warming the opposition benches for another three years. And the Liberals have a twelve-point lead in the polls, should they choose to call an early election.

The Conservatives’ concerns about immigration aren’t misplaced. But in the current climate, they’re more rage farm than reform.

Share this Story : Edmonton Journal Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.

© Edmonton Journal