Windsor can't handle more asylum seekers from the U.S. without federal help, report says

Windsor, Ont., councillors will decide this week whether to write the federal government to say the city needs help, or it won't be able to handle any more asylum seekers.

Five councillors, as part of the community services standing committee, will discuss Wednesday the arrival this month of hundreds of asylum seekers, many from Quebec's Roxham Road border crossing.

The committee will vote on whether to write to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to say it "does not have the capacity or resources to support additional asylum claimants beyond those estimated based on the current number of secured temporary accommodation."

"The large number of asylum claimants arriving in Windsor over a relatively short period raises concerns about the City of Windsor" if there aren't "additional resources from the federal and provincial governments," said Stephen Lynn, manager of social policy and planning, in a report this week. 

The arrival has had "no impact on the local emergency shelter system," Lynn's report says, but it could if claimants leave the hotels.

There's also been an "influx" of people applying for social assistance, with as many as 650 more cases expected, the report says. There's a "high probability" it would impact the housing market.

'Unprecedented flows' of people seeking asylum

The city needs more help from the provincial and federal governments, Lynn's report says. It's already asked the province to handle more Ontario Works cases. 

The city "values all people," it says, and "will continue to work with our federal, provincial and community partners to respond to the unique needs of asylum claimants in a timely, caring and non-judgmental manner." But it needs help, and for the federal government to appoint a lead agency. 

Windsor West MP Brian Masse says that Ottawa has not kept up with planning for a surge in refugees. He wants to see more resources dedicated to supporting them.

"The federal government has been seeing what's going on at Roxham Road now for years, and has not done the appropriate things. And now, just dispersing the populations without a plan is not good action."

The City of Windsor is doing the right thing by raising concerns, he says.

"We want to do our part, we want to make sure people are taken care of," he said.

IRCC says it's met with the city and is working with it on the hotel operations. It's also talking to other municipalities to see which have the capacity to take in more asylum seekers.

"The world is facing unprecedented flows of migrants and refugees," the agency said in an email.

IRCC says when provincial shelters are full, it's also providing temporary housing, meals and basic support services until the claimants can move into longer-term housing. 

An increase from the U.S. 

"We recognize that the significant number of asylum claimants who have come to Quebec through Roxham Road have placed strains on provincial systems, and we are working with the province and other partners to relieve the strain as quickly as we can."

This as Windsor, like other border cities, is seeing an increase in asylum seekers sent northeast from some southern Republican states.

Many in Ontario arrived via Quebec. IRCC said this month that about 3,300 people seeking asylum are in Ontario. In Windsor, it said, 518 claimants are staying in hotels, having "arrived between designated ports of entry on the Canada/U.S. land border."

The report says these new arrivals are in a different category than permanent resident government-assisted or privately sponsored refugees.

Asylum claimants have travelled to Canada without government assistance and made their refugee claim in this country, Lynn says. Such claimants can get a permit to work if that income is required to pay for basic needs.

Encouraged to enter at designated spots

The IRCC says it's encouraging asylum claimants to enter Canada at designated ports of entry.

"However, asylum claimants are a vulnerable group, and Canada has obligations under the Refugee Convention that do not apply to other areas of immigration," it said. 

A spokesperson for the provincial government says Ottawa has sole jurisdiction over the border, but the two levels of government have been in contact.

"We have engaged with the federal government about the need to support provinces and municipalities financially, and we look forward to working with the federal government to ensure individuals coming to Ontario have access to the programs and services they need," said Jennifer Rushby, a spokesperson for the provincial ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

This month, a claimant from Afghanistan, Shair Aryan, said he just wants to be free. 

"Canada [is] one of my favourite countries," he said. "They provide very good service and facilities for refugees, and it's one of the most free countries.

"I would just like to live in a free country."