S1 E10 | The $1 Billion Headline: Context, Backlog, and the Real Policy Failure

On January 24, 2026, the National Post published a headline claiming Canadians are now spending nearly $1 billion per year to cover health-care costs for refugee claimants. The story has since been widely shared and amplified in political debate, including by members of the Conservative Party.

But what’s the full context?

In this episode, Christopher M. Michaud breaks down how Canada’s Interim Federal Health Program actually works, why costs are rising, and how the refugee claims backlog is the real driver behind growing expenditures.

This is not a debate about compassion. It’s a debate about administration, backlog management, and enforcement.

The United Canadian Centrists present a disciplined, centrist solution focused on:

• Clear eligibility rules • Backlog reduction • Timely enforcement of final decisions • Aligning immigration with infrastructure capacity

Canada can be both humane and controlled. But it must be competent.

Visit uccparty.ca to learn more about our policy positions.

Politics