Item - 2018.CD27.3
Tracking Status
- City Council adopted this item on April 24, 2018 with amendments.
- This item was considered by Community Development and Recreation Committee on April 12, 2018 and was adopted with amendments. It will be considered by City Council on April 24, 2018.
CD27.3 - Proposed Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement (MOU)
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
City Council Decision
City Council on April 24, 25, 26 and 27, 2018, adopted the following:
1. City Council authorize the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A to enter into a Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement that will provide a framework for the three governments to discuss information sharing and matters related to immigration and settlement.
2. City Council request an urgent federal and provincial response to the increased refugee arrivals in the Toronto shelter system, including:
a. federal and provincial-level coordination to facilitate the immediate placement of new arrivals to regional locations outside of the city of Toronto's shelter system;
b. engagement with the Urban Commissioners for a coordinated regional response;
c. dedicated staff to facilitate this coordinated regional service delivery and placement;
d. provision of additional resources, including non-municipal facilities and the staff and human resources to operate those facilities;
e. the introduction of a sustainable federal and provincial funding mechanism to address increases in housing and shelter demand at the municipal level and pressures related to irregular migrants/refugee claimants in particular;
f. reimbursement for all costs, including those incurred in 2017 and projected for 2018, in responding to the needs of refugee-claimants in Toronto, including $64.5M for direct operations;
g. federal-level action to better manage inter-provincial flow of refugee claimants and to facilitate faster processing of refugee claims through adequate Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada resources directed to process refugee claims in as short a period as possible in order to ensure work permits are issued at the earliest opportunity;
h. the introduction of a federally managed information sharing system that would notify cities outside of Quebec of upcoming arrivals of refugee claimants, so we have an idea of who is coming and when;
i. an increase in the total contribution for the portable housing benefit to assist in facilitating housing for many refugee claimants;
j. exemption of any city financial benefits to migrant families as income for the purposes of determining Ontario Works eligibility; and
k. consideration of additional financial benefits that may be extended to service users in cases of demonstrated and extreme need.
3. City Council request the Mayor and the City Manager to write letters to the Provincial and Federal Governments outlining these requests and providing information about the current state of the Toronto shelter system and additional spaces and services that have been added in recent months.
4. City Council request the City Manager to review staffing needed to adequately handle refugee flows into Toronto.
5. City Council reaffirm its support for the settlement and integration of newcomer communities across Canada, and Toronto’s leadership as a welcoming and inclusive City for all.
6. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A, as part of any future Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement, to request the inclusion of a shelter-temporary housing shared funding provision and to report to the July 23, 24 and 25, 2018 City Council meeting with any updates related to these discussions.
Background Information (Committee)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-113701.pdf
Motions (City Council)
That:
1. City Council request an urgent federal and provincial response to the increased refugee arrivals in the Toronto shelter system, including:
a. Federal and provincial-level coordination to facilitate the immediate placement of new arrivals to regional locations outside of the city of Toronto's shelter system;
b. Engagement with the Urban Commissioners for a coordinated regional response;
c. Dedicated staff to facilitate this coordinated regional service delivery and placement;
d. Provision of additional resources, including non-municipal facilities and the staff and human resources to operate those facilities;
e. The introduction of a sustainable federal and provincial funding mechanism to address increases in housing and shelter demand at the municipal level and pressures related to irregular migrants/refugee claimants in particular;
f. Reimbursement for all costs, including those incurred in 2017 and projected for 2018, in responding to the needs of refugee-claimants in Toronto, including $64.5m for direct operations;
g. Federal-level action to better manage inter-provincial flow of refugee claimants and to facilitate faster processing of refugee claims through adequate IRCC resources directed to process refugee claims in as short a period as possible in order to ensure work permits are issued at the earliest opportunity;
h. The introduction of a federally managed information sharing system that would notify cities outside of Quebec of upcoming arrivals of refugee claimants, so we have an idea of who is coming and when;
i. An increase in the total contribution for the portable housing benefit to assist in facilitating housing for many refugee claimants;
j. Exemption of any city financial benefits to migrant families as income for the purposes of determining Ontario Works eligibility; and,
k. Consideration of additional financial benefits that may be extended to service users in cases of demonstrated and extreme need.
2. The Mayor and City Manager write letters to provincial and federal governments outlining these requests and providing information about the current state of the Toronto shelter system and additional spaces and services that have been added in recent months.
3. The City Manager review staffing needed to adequately handle refugee flows into Toronto.
4. City Council reaffirm its support for the settlement and integration of newcomer communities across Canada, and Toronto’s leadership as a welcoming and inclusive City for all.
Vote (Amend Item (Additional)) Apr-27-2018 11:36 AM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CD27.3 - Mayor Tory - motion 1 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 36 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Gary Crawford, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Paula Fletcher, Michael Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Jim Hart, Michelle Holland, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Neethan Shan, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Lucy Troisi, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 8 | Members that were absent are Josh Colle, Joe Cressy, Vincent Crisanti, Justin J. Di Ciano, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Giorgio Mammoliti, David Shiner |
That City Council amend Community Development and Recreation Committee Recommendation 2 by adding the words "and to report to the July 23, 24 and 25, 2018 City Council meeting with any updated related to these discussions" so that it now reads as follows:
2. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A, as part of any future Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement, to request the inclusion of a shelter-temporary housing shared funding provision and to report to the July 23, 24 and 25, 2018 City Council meeting with any updates related to these discussions.
Vote (Amend Item) Apr-27-2018 11:38 AM
| Result: Carried | Majority Required - CD27.3 - Pasternak - motion 2 |
|---|---|
| Total members that voted Yes: 35 | Members that voted Yes are Paul Ainslie, Maria Augimeri, Ana Bailão, Jon Burnside, John Campbell, Christin Carmichael Greb, Gary Crawford, Janet Davis, Glenn De Baeremaeker, Frank Di Giorgio, Sarah Doucette, John Filion, Michael Ford, Mary Fragedakis, Jim Hart, Michelle Holland, Stephen Holyday, Jim Karygiannis, Mike Layton, Chin Lee, Josh Matlow, Mary-Margaret McMahon, Joe Mihevc, Denzil Minnan-Wong, Frances Nunziata (Chair), Cesar Palacio, James Pasternak, Gord Perks, Anthony Perruzza, Jaye Robinson, Neethan Shan, Michael Thompson, John Tory, Lucy Troisi, Kristyn Wong-Tam |
| Total members that voted No: 0 | Members that voted No are |
| Total members that were Absent: 9 | Members that were absent are Josh Colle, Joe Cressy, Vincent Crisanti, Justin J. Di Ciano, Paula Fletcher, Mark Grimes, Norman Kelly, Giorgio Mammoliti, David Shiner |
Councillor Fragedakis, rising on a Point of Order, stated that she wished to know what the next item would be.
CD27.3 - Proposed Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement (MOU)
- Decision Type:
- ACTION
- Status:
- Amended
- Wards:
- All
Committee Recommendations
The Community Development and Recreation Committee recommends that:
1. City Council authorize the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A to enter into a Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement that will provide a framework for the three governments to discuss information sharing and matters related to immigration and settlement.
2. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A, as part of any future Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement, to request the inclusion of a shelter-temporary housing shared funding provision.
Origin
Summary
On November 24, 2017, the federal and Ontario governments signed a new Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA). The purpose of the Agreement is "to strengthen the long-term partnership between Canada and Ontario to welcome and settle immigrants, boost the economy and address shared humanitarian responsibilities."
The City of Toronto has been working with the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration (MCI) and the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to negotiate a new Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) similar to that which accompanied the original COIA and expired in 2011. It recognized "that the extent to which immigrants succeed in Toronto is directly linked to the successful implementation of Canada’s immigration policy, the successful implementation of settlement and integration policies in Ontario, and the success of Toronto as Ontario’s and Canada’s largest city."
MCI and IRCC will work with the City to have a new MOU finalized and ready for signing in late spring 2018. This report seeks delegated authority from City Council for the Deputy City Manager A to sign the MOU.
Background Information
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2018/cd/bgrd/backgroundfile-113701.pdf
Motions
That:
1. City Council request the Deputy City Manager, Cluster A, as part of any future Canada-Ontario-Toronto Memorandum of Understanding on Immigration and Settlement, to request the inclusion of a shelter-temporary housing shared funding provision.