Is Social Media Undermining Canada’s Refugee System?

During debate on Bill C-12, I raised serious concerns about the integrity of Canada’s asylum system.

Responding to a colleague’s observation that social media ads are popping up that encourage temporary residents to claim asylum as a way to stay in Canada after their student visas or work permits expire, I asked whether the government has created a refugee system vulnerable to such manipulation, and – follow the money – who might profit from it?

In 2022, Canada processed over 91,000 asylum claims. That number rose to over 143,000 in 2023 and to over 171,000 in 2024. The system is strained.

There was a backlog of 291,975 unprocessed claims as of July 2025 – up from just about 10,000 when the Liberals took office in 2015.

Those unprocessed claimants are living in Canada in limbo, and statistics show that only about 29% of those claims will – eventually – be accepted as valid. The system is broken.

Provinces are having trouble providing adequate education, health care and other services to an influx of people – often people in serious need of help – in numbers that they can’t manage. Calgary alone has received 300,000 new residents in the last four years; 100,000 last year alone.

Bill C-12 replaces the discredited Bill C-2, which the government will likely withdraw due to major objections about the invasion of Canadians’ privacy, but there remain serious flaws in how the government is managing immigration, including refugee claimants.

As part of that debate, I called out the Liberal approach to providing Canadians with more information about the legislation.

It is supposed to be about Questions and Answers. Members of Parliament – typically the Opposition – ask questions of the government Member who is sponsoring new legislation.

During debate on Bill C-12, I questioned the government’s approach to these so-called “answers’, calling out scripted responses and legislative inefficiency. I challenged a Liberal MP on whether the answers are substantive or simply political theatre.

Ironically, the Liberal Member responds by reading word-for-word from a text prepared for him.

Watch this moment from the House of Commons as I pressed for accountability and respect for taxpayers’ dollars in the operation of Parliament.

For Further Information

Transcript of Greg’s question to MP Bexte in Hansard.

Transcript of Greg’s question to MP Rana in Hansard.