Ottawa, ON – Dan Mazier, Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, issued the following statement in response to testimony from Liberal Immigration Minister Lena Diab and Liberal Health Minister Marjorie Michel at the Health Committee:
“Mark Carney’s Immigration Minister admitted she doesn’t know how many Canadians lack access to a family doctor despite setting record levels of immigration. With 6.5 million Canadians without access to a family doctor, the Immigration Minister’s failure to consider healthcare capacity will only break our healthcare system more.
“When asked how many more patients Canada’s healthcare systems could support, she laughed and claimed, ‘that’s not a fair question for immigration,’ despite doctors testifying that immigration policies directly impact access to care.
“Neither Minister could provide any evidence that they have analyzed Canada’s healthcare capacity prior to setting immigration levels.
“According to the C.D. Howe Institute, Canada’s population growth is significantly outpacing the supply of family doctors, ‘resulting in reduced access rates for Canadians.’
“When asked how many of the 674 immigrant doctors her department approved through Express Entry last year are now licensed and treating patients in Canada, she couldn’t answer.
“Failing to consider healthcare capacity in setting immigration levels is failing both Canadians and newcomers who expect timely access to care. Conservatives believe that compassion must consider capacity.”