After an uproar over refugees being forced to camp out on Toronto streets for weeks, the federal government today announced close to $100 million for interim housing support for asylum claimants in this city.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser says the funding will ensure impacted communities have the capacity to keep a roof over the heads of vulnerable asylum claimants who want Canada’s protection.
“Canada will continue to support the world’s most vulnerable people who seek our protection,” Fraser stated. “Today, we have committed additional funds to ensure cities like Toronto have the capacity to keep a roof over the head of asylum seekers fleeing violence, war and persecution.”
This support will come through a one-time injection of approximately $212 million in funding into the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP), which will be extended until March 31 next year. This includes approximately $97 million in new funding for Toronto. IHAP provides funding on a cost-sharing basis to provinces and municipalities for the costs of interim housing for asylum claimants.
Today’s funding is in addition to the nearly $700 million already delivered through the program, including over $215 million for Toronto, according to a statement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Through the Interim Housing Assistance Program (IHAP), the federal government provides funding to provincial and municipal governments, on a cost-sharing basis, to address extraordinary interim housing pressures resulting from increased volumes of asylum claimants since 2017. In fiscal year 2022–2023, over $164 million in payments were made to cover eligible costs under IHAP, including approximately $88 million to Toronto, $67 million to Quebec and $9 million to Ottawa.
Both the municipal and provincial governments pointed fingers at Ottawa for the refugee crisis in Toronto. Some advocates felt that it was Black/African refugees who were being ignored when compared to Ukrainians who transition seemed well organized in comparison.
