ANALYSIS | A Federal Program to Provide Health Care for Refugees Is — Once Again — Sparking a Fiery Debate

ANALYSIS | A federal program to provide health care for refugees is — once again — sparking a fiery debate

The stated concerns about the Interim Federal Health Program and the political rhetoric harken back to the last time changes were made to the program — an episode that ended in a rebuke from the Federal Court.

CASW letter to Minister Diab on co-payments under the Interim Federal Health Program

February 18, 2026 Hon. Lena Diab, P.C., M.P. Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship  House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1A 0A6 Re: Concerns regarding new co-payments under the Interim Federal Health Program Dear Minister Diab: The Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) represents 20,500 social workers across 10 provinces and territories.  We are deeply concerned about the newly announced co-payments, effective May 1,…