Calgary, AB – Today, the Hon. Michelle Rempel Garner, Conservative Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, issued the following statement regarding a recent Ontario Social Benefits Tribunal decision which ruled that a man living in Canada illegally was eligible for Ontario Works social assistance:
“The recent Ontario Social Benefits Tribunal decision ruling, that a man living in Canada illegally is eligible for Ontario Works social assistance, is yet another government action that undermines core principles of our immigration system: those who come to Canada should do so legally and with a clear commitment to becoming self-sufficient as quickly as possible. This ruling should offend anyone who values an immigration system grounded in fairness and public trust.
“The Conservative Party of Canada agrees with Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s statement on the issue, which said that the provincial government ‘will always be there to support people on hard times—but that doesn’t include people living in Canada illegally.’ The Premier also clarified that he would consider changing provincial regulations to rule out eligibility for social supports to illegal residents.
“We call upon the federal Liberal government to take the same stance, and to back Premier Ford’s government on any measures it takes to ensure this ruling does not stand.
“Central to Canada’s immigration bargain is the notion that immigration is not only good for the individual immigrant, but first and foremost for Canadians. Whether in Saskatoon, Sydney or St. Catharines, immigrants are expected to contribute to Canada, in ways that benefit both the community and themselves.
“The baseline for this principle is obeying the law, getting a job and economically contributing to the community in which they live. A job provides not only money to pay for an increasingly unaffordable life, but also connections that break social silos and promote upward mobility and self-actualization.
“Most immigrants come to Canada and do exactly that. But if the opposite behaviour is normalized, public sentiment toward immigrants as a whole can shift. That is why it is so important for governments to send clear signals that our social welfare programs are not open to abuse.
“Unfortunately, the federal government is doing little to allay Canadians’ concerns, by choosing instead to cover healthcare benefits like counselling, vision and home visits for failed asylum claimants, and fund a costly refugee hotels program.
“All of this comes in the wake of March’s Supreme Court decision that unapproved asylum claimants in Québec have a constitutional right to provincially-funded, low-cost daycare spots. Conservatives affirm Québec’s right to use the notwithstanding clause in this matter should it choose to do so.
“Add all these together, and we have a social signal that does not provide a strong incentive to newcomers to integrate into Canada’s economic fabric by becoming self-sufficient. We call upon the federal government to support provincial government efforts to reform social welfare programs to prevent abuse when it comes to areas of shared jurisdiction like immigration.”