The recent influx of migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers into the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), has given rise to several demands from Mayors and Chairs of Durham, Brampton, Halton, Hamilton, Markham, Mississauga, Oshawa, Peel, Toronto, Vaughan and York.
They want:
- An urgent meeting of all orders of government to discuss immediate action on the capacity issues faced by municipalities, and to put in place a funding model that addresses the on-going need for emergency housing and other supports as this refugee crisis continues.
- The federal government to consult with municipalities, provinces and territories on the process of setting of immigration targets, including for international students, and on the funding and supports cities require to ensure people receive the housing and other services they need when they arrive.
- That these numbers be announced with enough time to be included in provincial and municipal growth planning.
“The Canadian government is failing to fully fund the municipal front line that Canada relies on to welcome and settle newcomers, including those needing urgent support such as refugees and asylum-seekers fleeing conflict in their home countries,” said a joint statement.
“Today’s [July 19] announcement by the federal government to increase interim housing supports is a good start, but it does not solve the systemic capacity issues municipalities across Ontario are facing, nor does it address the current refugee crisis in communities throughout the GTA and beyond,” it added.
It said Ontario cities understand that the federal government believes ‘housing and supports for asylum seekers are the responsibility of provinces and municipalities’ and historically, by working together with other orders of government, local agencies, and community partners to co-ordinate their settlement, municipalities have been able to expand services when there has been an influx through emergency shelter systems and other wraparound supports.
“This is no longer the case,” said the statement.
“Municipal leaders are operating with a nineteenth century revenue system to respond to twenty-first century responsibilities that include a housing and homelessness crisis, public health and safety issues such as the mental health and addictions crisis, ageing infrastructure, and other traditional responsibilities.”
This most recent influx of refugees has dramatically increased pressure on a system that is already over capacity, and despite best efforts, municipalities can no longer keep up with the demand, the startement said.
“While our cities are on the front line of welcoming newcomers to Canada, the federal government has not consulted nor planned with municipalities to ensure these newcomers receive the housing and other supports they need, including for those who have come to Canada to learn. And when these needs cannot be met, it is often vulnerable and marginalized communities that are impacted the most, the statement added.
Homelessness, drug addiction and rubbles without a cause Have caused an overwhelming issue in every area of ontario.
The government in Ottawa knew this. But yet we have a prime minister advertising to everyone outside of canada, come on in. Everyone seen it if you haven’t seen it you’ve been living under a rock Solution to this problem is to take the people in need and then bring them to our prime minister’s house and all the other MP’s houses and they can stay with them. They can feel free to share their steak and lobster and everything else they take from the taxpayers.