Le Lézard
Classified in: Business
Subjects: FOR, CFG

Government of Canada providing assistance to Toronto for asylum seeker housing


OTTAWA, July 16, 2018 /CNW/ - Building on previous commitments to support Toronto and other municipalities facing temporary housing pressures, the federal government announced today that it will actively support Toronto through housing support for asylum seekers currently housed in two college dormitories.

With Toronto facing pressure to find housing for this cohort of individuals, in-depth discussion have resulted in strong collaboration between Toronto and the federal government to ensure this matter will be resolved in advance of the early August deadline, when the temporary dormitory housing facilities need to be vacated. Specific details will be forthcoming as plans advance.

The federal government also continues to work closely on the development of contingency plans with its provincial and municipal partners to reduce the pressures the influx of irregular border crossers has had on temporary housing in major cities such as Toronto.

Toronto has a long history of welcoming refugees and newcomers, and in recent months has accommodated many asylum claimants in an already strained shelter system.

Although the number of irregular border crossers in June dropped for the second month in a row, the lowest in the last year, the federal government continues to actively engage with its partners to develop contingency plans in order to support the municipalities in the provision of temporary housing.

On June 1, the Government of Canada pledged an initial $50 million to assist the provinces and municipalities that have borne the majority of costs associated with the recent influx. Of these funds, $11 million will be provided directly to the City of Toronto in the coming weeks. Direct funding was required after the Province of Ontario chose to withdraw from its jurisdictional responsibility around housing.

As part of the contingency planning activities, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada and Canada Border Services Agency are increasing their capacity to provide temporary beds for those crossing near Roxham Road in St-Bernard-de-Lacolle, Quebec.

In addition, a contract has been signed with the NAV Centre in Cornwall, Ontario, to provide additional temporary accommodations to asylum seekers should it be required.

These temporary accommodations will allow the government to better manage the flow of asylum seekers, helping reduce the strain placed on municipalities.

Quotes

"We have a clear plan for managing asylum seeker pressures and continue to act to support our partners. Our largest cities have shown tremendous leadership in their response to the recent influx of asylum seekers. Toronto and Montreal, as major population centres, face the greatest challenges when it comes to housing asylum claimants, and we will continue to work with them to come up with long-term, workable solutions to those challenges."

? The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick facts

Associated link

Follow us:

 

SOURCE Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada


These press releases may also interest you

at 09:30
Connolly Brothers Inc., a construction management firm serving private commercial, industrial and institutional clients, recently completed a 52,000 square-foot design-build fit-up project for Calare Properties. The facility, located in Milford, MA,...

at 09:30
Policybazaar, India's leading online insurance marketplace, is witnessing a significant increase in non-resident Indians (NRIs) choosing term insurance from India via its platform. This surge is driven by the unparalleled ease, benefits and...

at 09:27
My Daily Leadership, a pioneering leadership development company, has announced the launch of its proprietary Leadership Assessment tool. Designed to help leaders benchmark themselves against top leaders across the globe, the assessment helps to...

at 09:20
This strategic move...

at 09:07
Olympus announced today that it has been awarded a contract for its advanced energy portfolio by Provista Inc. This new, nationwide agreement provides Provista members with negotiated pricing for Olympus® energy products, including the...

at 09:05
Popular, Inc. announced today that it expects to report its financial results for the first quarter ending March 31, 2024, before the market opens on Tuesday, April 23, 2024. Popular will hold a conference call to discuss the financial results the...



News published on and distributed by: