Provinces to get $50M for refugee housing
Federal funds earmarked to address refugee crisis in Ont., Que. and Man.
OTTAWA— The federal government has announced $50 million in funding for Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba to help offset the costs of housing thousands of asylum seekers.
Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen pledged the money Friday in response to provincial and municipal demands for federal help to cope with a “crisis” that risked overwhelming local resources. Toronto Mayor John Tory — who last month had criticized the lack of assistance from Ottawa — said Friday that the funding announcement was a “start toward the federal government meeting its responsibilities to cities.”
Tory noted that housing refugee claimants will cost Toronto $64.5 million this year, plus an additional $6.3 million to open emergency sites.
Canada’s largest city is struggling to house more than 2,600 refugee claimants in its homeless shelters, making up about 40.8 per cent of the entire system, and is now making arrangements to open up college dormitories.
“Our city has a long history of welcoming refugees and we continue to support that approach, but we have been clear that Toronto can no longer absorb the cost and impact of the increasing numbers of refugee claimants coming into the country at this time,” Tory said in a statement.
On Friday, Hussen praised the provinces — and Montreal and Toronto in particular — for their “extraordinary” efforts to assist the refugee claimants.
Hussen acknowledged that the influx of asylum-seekers has increased pressure to provide shelter and social services. He said the “initial” funds are meant to provide immediate assistance for temporary housing. Quebec will receive $36 million, Ontario $11 million and Manitoba $3 million.