WINNIPEG — Several dozen protesters braved the Winnipeg cold to push city council to declare the city a sancutary for undocumented migrants.
One rally organizer, Hazim Ismail, says Winnipeg should follow in the steps of cities such as Toronto, which declared itself a sanctuary city in 2013.
He says the declaration would help ensure programs helping refugee claimants and other are maintained, and provide a safer environment for undocumented migrants.
Speakers at the rally say Canada needs to offer more help after moves by the United States to ban refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries.
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Mayor Brian Bowman has been non-committal.
In a written statement, Bowman’s press secretary said it’s not clear what effect, if any, would come from declaring the city a sanctuary.
“At this point, front line agencies and organizations helping and assisting new arrivals have not identified a need to declare Winnipeg a ‘sanctuary city,'” Jonathan Hildebrand wrote.
“It also isn’t clear what the increased benefits or improvements would be from a declaration of this nature. Nevertheless, Mayor Bowman remains open to the idea, and welcomes feedback and thoughts from the community about the need to undertake a declaration such as this.”