Dec 19, 2024 Story by: Editor
The Toronto ombudsman, Kwame Addo, issued a report on Thursday criticizing the city’s temporary policy that restricted refugees from accessing shelter beds, describing it as a form of anti-Black racism. However, City Manager Paul Johnson has expressed disagreement with the report’s findings.
Addo’s report, which outlined 14 recommendations for the city, stated that the decision to limit access to non-refugee shelter beds for refugees was “poorly thought out, planned for, and communicated.” The report also highlighted systemic issues that arose during the implementation of this policy.
In a letter dated November 26, Johnson rejected the report’s conclusions, stating, “I do not agree with the findings.” He added that any action on the recommendations would depend on the city council’s decision.
Johnson’s response marks a historic moment for the Ombudsman’s office. “This is the first time in the history of the Ombudsman’s office that the Toronto Public Service has rejected my findings and recommendations in their entirety,” Addo noted.
Policy Impact on Refugees
According to the report, the city stopped allowing refugee claimants access to general shelter beds in November 2022, though this decision was only made public in May 2023. Officials cited insufficient provincial and federal funding as the reason for diverting refugees to federal support systems.
The consequences of this policy were severe. By June 2023, many refugees, primarily Black individuals from African countries, were left sleeping on Toronto streets. “Many refugee claimants were living on the sidewalk or in make-shift shelters with only limited access to sanitation, food, and water,” Addo wrote.
Though city staff claimed the policy was intended to redirect refugees to specialized support services, Addo criticized the approach, saying, “It’s better to have a bed — any bed — than no bed at all.”
The report concluded that the decision violated the Toronto Housing Charter, which guarantees the right to safe and affordable housing, and breached the Ontario Human Rights Code. The policy was reversed in July 2023, but implementation delays persisted until September, a delay Addo called “unacceptable.”
Shelter System Under Pressure
During the review period (April 2022–October 2023), approximately 1,700 of Toronto’s 9,000 shelter beds were designated specifically for refugees, providing additional support like legal aid and assistance with application deadlines. However, data on the number of refugees affected by the policy was not tracked.
Mayor Olivia Chow responded to the report by emphasizing the need for collaborative solutions and funding. “Refugees have different needs than Toronto’s homeless population,” she said, urging stable and predictable financial support. In July 2023, Chow publicly apologized to refugees, stating, “The way they’ve been treated on the streets and the lack of dignity that they experience, there’s absolutely no excuse whatsoever.”
City Manager’s Defense
Johnson defended the city’s actions, pointing to the operational pressures caused by insufficient federal funding. He criticized the report for being “accusatory in many places” and argued that the right to housing outlined in the city’s Housing Charter is aspirational rather than a legal obligation.
Addo acknowledged the strain on Toronto’s shelter system but maintained that the city’s actions were discriminatory. “Under human rights law, it is the effect or consequences of their actions and policies that matter, not the intent,” he wrote.
Recommendations for Improvement
Addo recommended that future policy changes align with the Ontario Human Rights Code and Toronto’s anti-racism policies. He also urged the city to engage with refugee claimants and relevant organizations to improve shelter services, with a proposed deadline of June 2025.
Community and Organizational Responses
Nadine Miller, executive director of Pilgrim Feast Tabernacles—one of the churches that sheltered refugees during the crisis—affirmed the accuracy of the report. “The report is accurate because we lived it,” she said, calling on the city to collaborate with community organizations.
“Don’t be defensive,” Miller advised. “Let’s work together to create a system that will not let the people hit the ground again.”
Despite Johnson’s pushback, Addo stood by his findings, stating, “This is a missed opportunity for the city to implement improvements to service and to ensure fairness and equity within the shelter system.” Source: CBC
