Toronto’s ombudsman says he is launching an investigation into the city’s decision to deny shelter access to refugee claimants and asylum seekers this past spring.
"There is no doubt that the City of Toronto is facing a housing crisis. Even so, the City has an obligation to treat all people in Toronto fairly, with dignity, respect, and care," Ombudsman Kwame Addo said in a statement Thursday. "I am launching an investigation to determine if the City's decision to deny non-refugee shelter spaces to refugee claimants and asylum seekers met that obligation.
Citing the fact that refugees and asylum-seekers are an area of federal responsibility, the city said it would have to start referring asylum-seekers to federal programs instead of admitting them to the regular waiting list for those seeking shelter.outside of a downtown shelter intake centre in the hopes that a spot might open up for them.
After taking office, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow passed a motion calling for refugees to be able to access space in the shelter system as it becomes available, howeverIn a release Thursday, the ombudsman's office said that it will consider the city processes leading up to the decision, the city’s communication about its decision with staff and the public, and whether the decision and its implementation were fair and in keeping with city policies, procedures, and rules.