Jason Jacques, interim parliamentary budget officer, prepares to appear before the Standing Committee on Government Operations and Estimates on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sept. 25, 2025. The Canadian Press/Justin Tang
Canada’s parliamentary budget officer says the federal health-care program used by asylum claimants will cost more than $1.5 billion annually within the next five years.
Parliamentary Budget Officer (PBO) Jason Jacques estimated in a Feb. 12 report that the total cost of the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) will reach nearly $1 billion this fiscal year and increase to more than $1.5 billion by fiscal 2029-30.
