Windsor mayor against paying for immigrants living on the feds’ dime

Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens is against paying for immigrants living in hotels on the federal government’s dime, as the feds look to close up their cheque books.

Dilkens was on AM800 Tuesday and said the federal government is looking to stop paying for migrants in hotels across the country, including Windsor. The responsibility will fall on municipalities.

“They’re looking to municipalities and the province to start paying, which is just unconscionable in my mind,” Dilkens said.

“To think that municipalities, through property tax dollars, is going to be able to pitch in on this is just asinine and we’re not prepared to do that.”

Dilkens said there are about 1,000 migrants staying in two city hotels, while waiting for a judicial decision on their status through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Their meals are paid for, and their kids are going to school and using health care while they wait.

Mike Morency, executive director of Matthew House, said while the feds want to stop putting people up in hotels, they won’t leave them stranded.

“They’re prepared to provide some upfront funds in partnership with municipalities in order to see this proven charitable model implemented and strengthened across the country,” said Morency.

For the past 22 years, Matthew House has been providing temporary shelter and supports for refugees to help them settle in the community. Morency feels this is an opportunity for his organization to partner with the city and government.

“In the process, it will provide both short-term cost savings to the city and long-term cost savings to the city as these people receive the quality supports they need,” Morency told CTV News.

Kennedy Makabi-Muchira is a refugee from Kenya who said he was recently told he could no longer stay at the hotel he was at for a year on government dime because he had a job. He and many others have been or will be hitting the real estate market.

Property owner Shawn Lippert said he has had many inquiries from refugees in the last three weeks and has rented several units.

“Colombians, Kenyans, a couple Nigerians, we have seven total and my marketplace, there’s probably about 30 or 40,” he said.

Dilkens is expected to address this issue in more detail later this week.

“Things are still moving on this file, and I hope sensible minds prevail when they looked at this,” said Dilkens.