Toronto Seeks Ottawa’s Help to House Influx of Refugee Claimants

Scrambling to find emergency shelter for new arrivals has become unsustainable, says Tory

An RCMP officer escorts a woman and a child claiming to be from Yemen as they cross the U.S.-Canada border in Hemmingford, Que., on March 5, 2017. The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes

TORONTO—Toronto is no longer able to handle the numbers of refugee claimants arriving in the city because of over-capacitated shelters, and is seeking support from the federal and provincial governments.

Mayor John Tory has written a letter to Ottawa outlining his concerns and the urgency of the situation. According to the Toronto Star, Tory writes that the city welcomes all newcomers, but “they need the appropriate support and leadership of both Ontario and Canada.”