Petition: Tell Parliament to Restore Shelter Funding for Refugees
Thousands of refugees in Toronto could soon be without shelter because the Canadian government is cutting $107 million in funding that it owes to the city. That means 1,800 fewer beds for people who have nowhere else to go.
In 2024, the feds announced they would cover 95% of refugee shelter costs. Now they are breaking their own commitment.
Ottawa is forcing the city to accept this cut (or potentially lose the rest of the funding) by August 25. Sign our petition to demand Prime Minister Mark Carney and your local MP to deliver the necessary funding:
Why is the federal government breaking its own commitment?
Homelessness is a crisis not only in our city but across the country. So why is the federal Liberal government cutting shelter funding and making matters worse?
Right now, refugees make up 40% of all shelter clients in Toronto. Despite this, the Liberal government is not only cutting funding but also imposing a 90-day limit on refugees in the shelter system.
These cuts and restrictions will force hundreds—if not thousands—of people to live outside.
The federal government cannot turn its back on its responsibilities to refugee and asylum-seeking families who urgently need shelter and a path to stable, affordable housing. Tell your MP and Prime Minister Carney:
Ontario’s Big City Mayors Agree: Fund Shelters for Refugees
Ontario’s Big City Mayors met after learning of the federal government’s cuts to refugee shelter funding. Mayor Olivia Chow introduced and passed a motion calling on the Carney government to:
Restore funding for refugee shelters to 95% of costs
Remove the 90-day shelter limit for refugees
Streamline the refugee response to move people into permanent housing faster
Join Ontario’s mayors. Send your message to demand that Prime Minister Carney and the federal government restore funding and remove harmful restrictions on emergency housing.