Hussen pledges $50M for housing for asylum seekers

The Liberal authorities is offering $50 million to Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba to assist ease a housing crunch attributable to an inflow of asylum seekers. Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen made the announcement on Parliament Hill right this moment, saying the cash is only a first instalment in a longer-term funding association. Quebec will obtain the most important share of the funding — $36 million — whereas $11 million will go to Ontario and $three million to Manitoba. “That is an preliminary assist for speedy wants to fulfill the necessities for short-term housing, shelter capability this summer season,” Hussen stated.  Talks with the provinces and the cities of Toronto and Montreal, which have seen the most important numbers of asylum seekers, are ongoing. Hussen stated a triage system is being developed that might goal to funnel individuals away from the most important cities to different communities as a way to deal with stretched sources. A reception centre shall be established in Cornwall, Ont. to establish different locations for newcomers. ‘Band-aid answer’ “You possibly can’t have a reception centre with out having locations to ship individuals to,” Hussen stated. “And Toronto is already speaking about how they’re reaching capability.” Conservative immigration critic Michelle Rempel referred to as the money announcement a “Band-aid” answer and predicted that cash necessities for housing, well being care and different social prices will proceed to climb because the circulate of asylum seekers crossing into Canada from the U.S. continues. “What we have heard right this moment is an abdication of duty to handle our border and our asylum claims system successfully,” she stated. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/hussen-housing-asylum-seekers-1.4687624?cmp=rss