Advertisement

Toronto getting $143 million in federal funding for asylum seeker shelter support

Click to play video: 'Feds commit to shelter funding after months-long staring match'
Feds commit to shelter funding after months-long staring match
WATCH: A political battle over who will cover shelter costs for asylum seekers and refugees came to a head, with a funding commitment for Toronto from the federal government. It comes after weeks of tax threats if the funding didn’t come through. Matthew Bingley reports – Feb 2, 2024

Toronto is getting $143 million from the federal government to help shelter asylum seekers in the city.

Earlier this week, Immigration Minister Marc Miller had announced Ottawa would spend $362 million to help cities and provinces house asylum seekers, saying Toronto would get a “significant amount.”

The city’s portion of that funding was announced Friday, with the federal government saying it was aimed at reimbursing costs incurred by Toronto last year and in the first quarter of this year.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow has said the federal funds will support nearly 6,000 refugee claimants currently in the city’s shelter system.

The city saw asylum seekers sleeping on sidewalks for a period of time last summer when they were unable to get a space in the shelter system.

Chow has been pressing the federal government for more support since she took office in July – Ottawa announced nearly $100 million for asylum seeker support in the summer and the latest funding is in addition to that.

Story continues below advertisement
Click to play video: 'Freeland announces $162M funding for Toronto’s asylum seekers, low-income renters'
Freeland announces $162M funding for Toronto’s asylum seekers, low-income renters

Sponsored content

AdChoices