CIMM – Former Media Response to La Presse – Requested by MINO– November 18, 2022

Answer:

In general, with the exception of health services (Interim Federal Health Program), the provision of all other support services is the responsibility of the provinces and territories. Municipalities or non-profit organizations also provide some support services.

Canada's Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) provides limited, temporary health care coverage (basic coverage, supplemental coverage and prescription drug coverage) to all eligible beneficiaries.

Refugee claimants with coverage under the IFHP will receive services equivalent to those available in their province of residence.

Further details on the IFHP are available on the IRCC website.

The federal government also issues work permits to asylum seekers who apply, provided their application is referred to the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) and they have completed their immigration medical exam (IME). There are currently delays in obtaining work permits, but the Government is actively working to reduce the backlog. Work permits allow applicants to support themselves during the review of their application and thus reduce the demand for social services provided by the provinces and territories.

The provision of housing to refugee claimants is a provincial responsibility; however, the Government of Canada is committed to working collaboratively with its municipal and provincial partners to help ease the pressures they face in providing temporary housing to asylum seekers crossing the border between ports of entry, including through the Interim Housing Assistance Program.

The Government of Canada contributes to social housing, social assistance and social services through the Canada Social Transfer, and is also making significant investments in affordable housing, including through the $1 billion in Rapid Housing Development under the National Housing Strategy, and additional funding for Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy. The Government of Canada has provided $534.5 million in financial support to provinces and municipalities, including $374 million to the province of Quebec, to alleviate asylum-related housing pressures from 2017 to 2020. Additional funds to help our partners with the costs for 2021 and 2022 related to interim housing are also available.

As a general rule, asylum seekers in Canada must make arrangements for housing and food. However, when they are unable to do so, they have access to provincial and municipal shelter networks.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has exceptionally reserved hotel rooms in various cities to temporarily house unvaccinated and asymptomatic asylum seekers entering Canada who do not have a suitable quarantine plan. Although quarantine requirements were lifted on October 1, 2022, IRCC continues to support Quebec by providing temporary accommodation on an exceptional basis when provincial shelters are full.

In addition, under the Canada-Quebec Accord, the federal government provides annual compensation to enable Quebec to provide settlement and integration services in the province. Quebec received $697.03 million in 2021–2022 under the terms of the Accord.

Finally, the federal Legal Aid Program provides contribution funding to provinces and territories for the provision of legal aid services to economically disadvantaged persons.

Legal aid promotes access to justice for economically disadvantaged people, including asylum seekers, and helps to ensure that the Canadian justice system is fair, efficient and accessible, and that public trust in the justice system is maintained.