Advocates for African asylum seekers implore York Region for more support

'York Region boasts of diversity and equality, I’m not seeing it,' church representative says, despite $4.3 million provided

Newmarkettoday.com
Jan. 12, 2024
Joseph Quigley

Organizations supporting African asylum seekers struggling in York Region presented to council demanding more support and expressing they feel the government response is inadequate.

Representatives and supporters of Vaughan's Miracle Arena Canada and ANCHOR Canada once again filled council chambers Jan. 11. Four delegations asked regional council for further support beyond the $4.3 million in emergency dollars the region has allotted and said there remain many issues with how York Region is responding to the influx of refugees from African countries.

One of those issues is a dispute over municipal pressure to move asylum seekers being housed at the Miracle Arena site. Representative Dr. Martin Kofi Danso said asylum seekers are being treated poorly in the hotels York Region has set up for them. He said letters that they stop housing asylum seekers are discriminatory.

“York Region boasts of diversity and equality, I’m not seeing it. It’s full of discrimination. It’s sad,” he said. “I ask the region to work with the churches.”

Municipalities in the GTA have struggled to address an influx of African asylum seekers for the past several months. Miracle Arena Canada and ANCHOR Canada have supported those coming into the predominately southern side of the region, with Miracle Arena trying to house them for several months.

After pleas for support, York Region stepped in with emergency funding and hotel housing for the asylum seekers, though staff and politicians have noted that upper levels of government also have a responsibility to address the situation.

In response to Danso’s presentation, Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca said Miracle Arena site is not suitable for housing, noting it was a message he gave to them as snow started hitting the ground.

“This is a very emotional issue for people ... we are, after all, doing our very best at the city level and the regional level to help individuals who are seeking asylum in the country,” he said. “Having individuals living on a site, whether in the City of Vaughan or elsewhere, that is not suitable or safe for housing, is in nobody’s interests.”

With Miracle Arena asking for things like a bus stop and municipal servicing, Del Duca said that could not be entertained given issues with the site for housing like public health and Greenbelt matters.

Another issue discussed was funding, with council members raising that other levels of government need to do their part. Markham Regional Councillor Joe Li cited the federal government’s $650 million in aid for Ukraine.

The federal government “should take the responsibility to provide the funding to look after the refugees they let in,” Li said. “They created a problem, they expect us to solve a problem. That is very unfair.”

But local area Pastor Eddie Jjumba said he has likewise heard from federal officials about the need for provincial and municipal levels to step up.

“When two elephants fight, it is the grass that gets trampled on. We feel like that grass,” he said.

He added they had delivered the message of the need for help to upper levels of government. Still, Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt offered to arrange a meeting with local federal and provincial officials, suggesting mayors work with advocates to send the message.

“It’s incumbent on us to lend our voice to you,” Lovatt said.

Other issues raised include the organizations expressing that they are getting less funding and support from the York Region’s emergency funding than the Red Cross does, despite working to support asylum seekers for several months before the region stepped in.

York Region director of corporate communications Patrick Casey said Red Cross was contracted to operate a hotel-based interim housing site from September to March, with COSTI Immigrant Services and ANCHOR Canada providing settlement and social support. Of the $4.3 million, $4 million is devoted to hotel, food and support for urgent needs, while $300,000 is going to settlement and social supports, along with miscellaneous costs.

"The region is seeking Interim Housing Assistance Program funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to cover extraordinary or incremental costs the region is incurring operating this site," Casey said.

Danso implored York Region chairman Wayne Emmerson to step up.

“You hold one of the powerful seats,” he said. “I’ve heard stories of you, that you’re a good man. Prove it. Let us feel that,” he said.

After the delegations, Emmerson said York Region would have a related resolution come forward in two weeks.

“It’s very critical, I know, in the City of Toronto, but we could also use a lot of funding too,” Emmerson said.