Canada‘s Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, has announced a substantial financial commitment of $5 million from the federal government to support the City of Toronto in opening the Better Living Centre at Exhibition Place. This initiative aims to provide additional spaces for asylum seekers during the upcoming winter.
“No one should be left outside in dangerously cold weather,” emphasized Marc Miller in a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday. “We have offered $5M to partner with the City of Toronto to open the Better Living Centre at Exhibition Place to create more safe spaces to keep people out of the cold. This option remains.”
Mayor’s Call for Urgent Action
The federal government’s offer comes in response to a letter from Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow urging the government to open armouries in the city for use as emergency shelters for asylum seekers as winter approaches. Despite the offer, the mayor’s office, in a late Wednesday email, expressed dissatisfaction, stating that the $5 million was insufficient. The office asserted ongoing efforts to open the Better Living Centre as part of its winter services plan but emphasized the need for additional space in light of the crisis.
City’s Financial Requirements
The mayor’s office highlighted the city’s financial requirements, stating a need for $200 million in 2023 to cover the costs of sheltering approximately 4,000 refugees currently in the city’s shelter system and an additional $240 million for 2024.
Mayor’s Plea
Mayor Chow, in a letter posted on social media earlier on Wednesday, described the refugee situation as dire. The letter, addressed to federal ministers Defence Minister Bill Blair and Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan, requested urgent operationalization, resourcing, and funding of Fort York Armoury and Moss Park Armoury by the federal government to provide shelter for refugee claimants during the crisis.
Minister’s Response To Armouries
In response to concerns about the suitability of armouries, Minister Miller acknowledged that they might not be ideal for housing asylum seekers. He indicated that a formal “request for assistance” from the Ontario government is required before the federal government considers opening the armouries. Miller stated that the government is exploring various options in the Greater Toronto Area, including Exhibition Place, to ease the pressure on the city’s shelter system.
Possible Federal Reception Centre
Miller hinted at a potential federal reception centre near Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, stating that an announcement is expected in the coming days. This centre aims to provide a coordinated regional response and effective triaging for asylum seekers.
Department of National Defence’s Statement on Damaged Armoury
The Department of National Defence (DND) addressed concerns about Moss Park Armoury, stating that it was damaged in 2018 when used as a makeshift homeless shelter. Repair work is ongoing, and the final costs are pending. The city of Toronto paid $30,000 for contracted-out expenses, covering cleaning and security.
Toronto’s three armouries—Fort York, Moss Park, and Denison—serve various military functions, including housing army reserve units, training Canadian Army soldiers, and supporting the Canadian Armed Forces cadet program for young individuals aged 12 to 18.