8,500 asylum seekers still housed on taxpayer dime

The federal government continues to fund housing for thousands of asylum seekers, even after winding down its controversial hotel program that accommodated more than 61,000 claimants over five years.

 

Approximately 8,500 asylum seekers were still receiving housing support through the Interim Housing Assistance Program between January 1 and September 30, 2025, according to a recent response to an Order Paper Question in the House of Commons.

That figure, notably, is based on self-reported data from provinces and municipalities and has not been verified by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The same federal response confirms that from 2020 to 2025, Ottawa directly operated hotels to house asylum claimants, citing pandemic-related pressures and strain on provincial shelter systems. In total, more than 61,000 asylum seekers were accommodated in hotels at taxpayer expense before the program was fully shut down on September 30, 2025.


Meanwhile, the cost of providing health care to asylum seekers has surged.

Federal data shows the average annual cost per claimant under the Interim Federal Health Program has nearly tripled in less than a decade, rising from $880 in 2016/2017 to $2,355 in 2024/2025.

Ontario reported the highest per-claimant costs in the most recent fiscal year at $2,595, followed by Quebec at $2,217 and Alberta at $1,934. Some regions saw dramatic spikes over time, including Yukon, where the per-claimant cost jumped to $4,050 in 2024–2025.

The federal government has not provided a total cumulative cost for the hotel program or ongoing housing supports, nor does it verify provincial reporting on how many claimants are currently being housed.

PETITION: Fix Our Cities!

23,564 signatures
Goal: 30,000 signatures

Canada's urban centres are spiraling into decay and chaos, with rampant crime, open drug use, and rising poverty turning once-desirable cities into places of fear. From violent knife attacks on Toronto’s public transit to open-air drug markets in Vancouver, these cities are becoming unrecognizable and unsafe, especially for families. Homeless encampments now dominate public parks and playgrounds, where drug paraphernalia litters spaces meant for children. And it’s not just Toronto and Vancouver — cities across the country are suffering as law and order give way to failed progressive policies. Sign our petition and follow our reporters as we investigate the true causes behind this urban decay and reveal what the mainstream media won’t.

Will you sign?

Sheila Gunn Reid

Chief Reporter

Sheila Gunn Reid is the Alberta Bureau Chief for Rebel News and host of the weekly The Gunn Show with Sheila Gunn Reid. She's a mother of three, conservative activist, and the author of best-selling books including Stop Notley.

COMMENTS

Showing 1 Comment

Please check your e-mail for a link to activate your account.
  • Fran g
    commented 2026-03-28 12:36:38 -0400
    Liberals are rotten to the core. We must get rid of them.