November 18, 2023 – The recent death of an asylum-seeker outside a former Peel Region shelter has ignited a call for immediate government support to address the escalating refugee crisis in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown addressed reporters during a news conference, emphasizing the need for urgent action from higher levels of government.
“We have been warning senior levels of government since July this was going to happen. It’s beyond comprehension that we have allowed this to happen,” Mayor Brown declared, expressing the heartbreak he felt upon learning of the fatality.
The incident, which occurred outside the former Peel Family Shelter on Dundas Street East, prompted Peel Regional Police to respond on Wednesday morning. The man, in his 40s, was found inside a tent without vital signs, and although the fatality has been deemed non-suspicious, the cause of death remains undetermined pending a post-mortem examination.
Mayor Brown pleaded for the tragedy not to be in vain, urging the government to take immediate action. Brown highlighted in a statement on X that the Region of Peel’s “shelter occupancy is at 321% and 68% of our shelter system in Peel is occupied by asylum claimants (previously 4%).” Brown revealed that the system, designed for 500 people, is currently supporting almost 1,500 individuals.
“As temperatures are about to get colder, there will be more fatalities, and that blood is on our hands if we don’t step up and help,” Brown cautioned.
Despite ongoing conversations with the federal government, Mayor Brown expressed frustration that funding is not arriving quickly enough. The urgency of the situation demands immediate attention and action.
Since July, municipalities have struggled to manage the influx of asylum seekers, with alarming scenes of individuals sleeping outside Toronto’s shelter intake center earlier in the summer. While community groups provided temporary relief by housing some asylum seekers in churches and offering food and clothing, the long-term sustainability of such efforts remains uncertain.
The federal government had announced a $210 million fund for interim housing in July, with a significant portion allocated to Toronto. However, municipalities argue that this amount falls short of the actual cost of addressing the crisis.
A spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stated that the agency is in touch with Peel officials and is collaborating with provinces and municipalities to address the unprecedented volume of asylum seekers arriving in Canada. The IRCC is working on transferring claimants to hotels with available space and aims to implement long-term, sustainable measures through engagement with all levels of government. Despite these assurances, Mayor Brown stressed that promised help has not materialized, heightening the urgency for immediate action.