Item - 2023.MM7.42
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on June 14, 2023 with amendments.
MM7.42 - Securing Emergency Shelter for Refugees - by Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Jamaal Myers
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on June 14 and 15, 2023, adopted the following:
1. City Council advise the Government of Canada of the increasing demand on the municipally-funded shelter system for asylum seekers.
2. City Council urge the Government of Canada to work with the Ethiopian Association of Greater Toronto as well as other refugee settlement and advocacy organizations and external partners to provide shelter to refugee claimants.
3. City Council urge the Government of Canada to allocate funding in the Federal Budget 2023 for "Temporary Lodgings for Asylum Seekers in Need of Shelter" to help refugees in the Toronto Region seeking safe shelter.
4. City Council support the work underway by City staff advocating for the Government of Canada to identify the most appropriate Federal services and funding available to meet the needs of asylum seekers and refugee claimants in their settlement process.
Background Information (City Council)
Motions (City Council)
That Councillor Josh Matlow be permitted to add to the agenda of today's meeting an urgent Motion without Notice concerning:
Securing Emergency Shelter for Refugees.
Reason for Urgency:
This Motion is urgent because many refugee claimants are currently experiencing homelessness and may soon need to be relocated.
That City Council delete the Recommendation:
Recommendation to be deleted
1. City Council request the General Manager, Shelter Support and Housing Administration to work with the Ethiopian Association of Greater Toronto as well as other refugee settlement and advocacy organizations and external partners to provide any possible form of shelter on an emergency basis to refugee claimants in the City of Toronto.
and adopt instead the following new Recommendations:
1. City Council advise the Government of Canada of the increasing demand on the municipally-funded shelter system for asylum seekers.
2. City Council urge the Government of Canada to work with the Ethiopian Association of Greater Toronto as well as other refugee settlement and advocacy organizations and external partners to provide shelter to refugee claimants.
3. City Council urge the Government of Canada to allocate funding in the Federal Budget 2023 for "Temporary Lodgings for Asylum Seekers in Need of Shelter" to help refugees in the Toronto Region seeking safe shelter.
4. City Council support the work underway by City staff advocating for the Government of Canada to identify the most appropriate Federal services and funding available to meet the needs of asylum seekers and refugee claimants in their settlement process.