Peter Tabuns MPP, Toronto-Danforth

TORONTO – In a letter to the Premier, Marit Stiles, Leader of the Official Opposition NDP, outlined a number of actions the provincial government could take right away to better support the hundreds of refugees and asylum seekers stuck outside on the streets without shelter or places to turn to.  

“These are people who have fled war and persecution in their home countries, and have come here looking for some safety, only to be abandoned on sidewalks,” said Stiles. “This is a moment for all levels of governments, across all party lines, to come together and support the refugees and asylum seekers. There are actions the government can take right now to offer some immediate relief, and the NDP is here, ready to help.” 

Stiles is calling on Ford to step up and provide immediate emergency funding to municipalities in order to shelter and house refugee and asylum claimants. The Official Opposition is also calling on the government to simultaneously provide additional Newcomer Settlement Program (NSP) funding across Ontario to help people find long-term housing and culturally appropriate services.   

Other effective actions that the Ontario NDP has proposed include: 

• Reinstating the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit for refugee and asylum claimants and healthcare funding for uninsured services.   
• Increasing Newcomer Settlement Program funding across Ontario, and particularly for agencies funded in the City of Toronto and along the Canada-US border.  
• Distributing emergency funds to community mental health organizations, local public health agencies, and community health centres to offer timely and culturally appropriate care to newcomers. 

Read Stiles’ full letter here.