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December 17th, 2013

Statement by the Official Opposition on cuts to Interim Federal Health Program for refugees

Citizenship and Immigration critic Lysane Blanchette-Lamothe (Pierrefonds – Dollard) made the following statement on cuts to the Interim Federal Health Program for refugees:

“In the wake of the Conservative government’s drastic cuts to refugee healthcare, certain provinces—including Ontario—have decided to assume these costs in order to ensure that the most vulnerable people still have a safety net.

New Democrats have joined with healthcare professionals, settlement organizations and refugees themselves to condemn these Conservative cuts from the beginning. After relinquishing its responsibilities, the Conservative government has no lesson to give to the provinces, which have had to take over the costs of these services to help the most vulnerable refugees.

The NDP is again calling on Conservatives to reverse these irresponsible and mean-spirited cuts. We believe that it is important to have an efficient, transparent and responsible immigration system and will continue to support the provinces’ request to reinstate the IFHP.