City of Hamilton wants government funds for Ukrainians

City councillors want assurances of senior government funding before authorizing local dollars to support Ukrainians arriving in Hamilton from their war-torn land.

Staff expect to spend as much as roughly $670,000 a month on temporary accommodation and services for 50 families as flights land with more frequency at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

But on Wednesday, councillors delayed approval of that expenditure for two weeks in hopes of firming up commitments from provincial and federal partners.

I really fear us getting caught in a jurisdictional war between the provincial government and the federal government on this immigration file," Coun. Brad Clark said Wednesday.

The Ontario government has promised $300 million to help welcome Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion, but just how those dollars will be allocated is not clear, city staff said.

Moreover, there is no word yet on funding from Ottawa, which is responsible for immigration, despite ongoing efforts to secure financial support.

Federal officials didn't immediately respond to The Spectator's questions about funding on Wednesday afternoon.

There seems to be an unreasonable expectation as to the level of local services that are available," Angie Burden, the city's general manager of healthy and safe communities, told councillors.

Meanwhile, more and more Ukrainians are arriving in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, Burden noted.

We're expecting 500 per day within the next couple of weeks. The reality is that they are coming to Hamilton."

But without some kind of a proactive response" through partners to line up temporary accommodations, the city will have to rely on Hamilton's shelter system, Burden said.

The plan is to work with Mohawk College, McMaster University and Redeemer University to place Ukrainians in dormitories and not overwhelm shelters.

The dorms are to be available until mid-August, and the post-secondary institutions are looking for payment," Grace Mater, a general manager who's handling the file, told councillors.

The YMCA, which is triaging" services, has helped establish 11 host homes with more in the works, Mater said. So we're trying to make ourselves as ready as possible."

The city plans to send a letter from Mayor Fred Eisenbergers's office to federal and provincial officials advocating for funding. Mayor John Tory of Toronto has made similar overtures as part of a regional approach for senior government dollars, staff noted.

Hamilton has a significant wait list of people hoping to move into affordable housing, Coun. Arlene VanderBeek said.

And we can't give it to them. On the other hand, we have an emergency and I think we all want to help with the emergency."

But council needs some reassurance" that government funding is forthcoming to offset a very large expense" for residential taxpayers, VanderBeek said.

Noting the pretty steep price point," Coun. Jason Farr suggested it may" make sense to explore a potential purchase to temporarily accommodate Ukrainian arrivals that could later serve as housing.

The city is trying to do too much for too many," Coun. Brenda Johnson argued, pointing to the $670,000-a-month forecast. And I believe that we need to pull back our mandate."

Teviah Moro is a reporter at The Spectator. tmoro@thespec.com