The conservatives demand tightening asylum rules and deporting non-citizens involved in serious crimes

Conservative MPs in Canada have called on the federal government to take immediate action to tighten asylum laws and prevent non-citizens involved in serious crimes from applying for asylum, considering that the current system allows for abuse of procedures and delays in deportation processes.
In a statement issued from Ottawa, Michelle Rempel Garner, Immigration Minister in the Conservative shadow cabinet, along with MP Brad Redekopp, Assistant Immigration Minister in the shadow cabinet, said that what they described as "loopholes" in the asylum system enable some non-citizens to exploit legal procedures to delay their removal after being detained in criminal cases.
Redekopp said that "Canadians are witnessing an increase in extortion crimes, while some accused resort to applying for asylum to delay justice," adding that the system must prioritize "street safety, victims' rights, and taxpayers first."
The statement referred to extortion incidents in the Lower Mainland area of British Columbia, where the Conservatives spoke about the involvement of non-Canadians in crimes targeting small business owners. The party considered that applying for asylum after detention in such cases obstructs legal procedures and delays the deportation of accused individuals if convicted.
The Conservatives also criticized the continued benefit of asylum seekers from the Interim Federal Health Program, citing estimates from the Parliamentary Budget Office indicating that the program's costs could approach one billion dollars this year.
Redekopp said that "expanding federal coverage with weak oversight and rising costs is unacceptable at a time when Canadians are struggling to access basic healthcare services," calling for "restoring discipline to immigration laws and closing loopholes that allow foreign criminals to remain."
These statements come amid ongoing political debate over asylum and immigration policies, where British Columbia Premier David Eby has previously criticized some aspects of the federal asylum system, describing it as in need of reform.
The Liberal government has not issued an immediate response to the Conservative statement, but Ottawa had previously confirmed that the Canadian asylum system is subject to independent legal procedures and balances international obligations to protect refugees with public security requirements.