Delays in the opening of a reception centre in Ontario’s Peel Region for refugees are significantly impacting both refugees and local communities.
Access to shelter is a basic human right and an important social determinant of health. Furthermore, reception centres have the potential to meet new refugees where they are at and provide necessary services – such as health care, legal aid, food, temporary shelter and social support – while they undergo major life transitions.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ontario received 48 per cent of all asylum claims in Canada between April and December 2023 – the highest of any province or territory. With airport office claims currently on the rise, the introduction of reception centres, especially at official ports of entry, is an urgent and therefore timely issue.
In the wake of two African refugees dying while awaiting shelter in Mississauga within three months of each other, the federal government provided $7 million in funding to implement a centralized reception centre in the Peel Region in 2023. With the potential to support the legal, housing, health, education, employment, and community integration needs of refugees – at the inception of their arrival, and all in one place – the development of reception centres across Ontario may help address some of the hardship refugees experience and create lasting positive impacts for this community.
The reception centre in Peel is designed to offer arriving refugees and asylum seekers a secure environment where they can access essential services and temporary shelter. Health support is a critical service as many refugees come from backgrounds marked by domestic violence or conflict, resulting in physical injuries or mental health challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Discussions with refugees consistently highlight that health care remains a primary concern upon their arrival. Misikr Tsegay, a medical doctor and a refugee from her home country, emphasizes that refugees “need comprehensive medical attention and care, preferably a one-stop reception centre that offers multiple services tailored to the needs of refugees. In this way, delays can be avoided that would have otherwise occurred without proper and timely guidance in this high-risk population.”
Tsegay, who arrived in Canada while 14 weeks pregnant, notes, “Despite my eagerness, I was only able to see a physician six weeks after I arrived at a walk-in clinic, that is at 20 weeks of pregnancy. This was mainly due to my lack of awareness on navigating the health-care system and I didn’t have proper guidance.”
While she eventually received the care she needed, her situation highlights how critical it is to have reception centres with onsite physicians and staff that offer referrals and help refugees navigate resources.
While the federal government is taking positive steps in the right direction, Patrick Brown, Brampton’s mayor, says the federal government is not providing enough financial support, leaving municipalities with an unmanageable financial burden. Communication and cooperation between municipal and federal governments is essential to ensure that reception centres, including the one in Peel, open as soon as possible.
Many refugees utilize social services to integrate into a new country. Unfortunately, there are numerous stories like Misikr’s demonstrating the large initial difficulty refugees face navigating access to health and social services – complicated by language barriers, cultural distinctions, and being disconnected from their support network. This prolonged period without essential services can cause heightened stress, frustration, and loneliness in a community with specific vulnerabilities, ultimately contributing to the development – or exacerbation of – physical and mental health conditions.
The delays in the refugee reception centre places challenges on the health and wellbeing of the whole community.
Moreover, the delay in the reception centre puts an extra burden on other local organizations and social services that are not equipped to handle the unique needs of refugees. The strain on shelters and public housing is visible, with many news reports describing long lines of refugees outside shelters seeking an open bed. Although the City of Toronto has made efforts to establish temporary shelters in federal armouries, Ontario’s shelter network was not designed to support the health and social needs of refugees. While shelters do their best to support all residents, the increased burden on staff can lead to burnout and reduced effectiveness over time.
All in all, the delays in the refugee reception centre places challenges on the health and wellbeing of the whole community.
We call for the Canadian government, specifically the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada (IRCC), to take swift action and support refugee health through the construction and funding of the promised centralized reception centre in Peel region. The Toronto Star reports that once the requested funding is secured, the centralized reception centre could potentially open within a few months, helping to support the needs of refugees.
We urge all health-care workers to keep up awareness of this issue and consider connecting with their local government representatives about the implementation of reception centres – advocating alongside refugees themselves to ensure that, during times of major transition, nobody slips through the cracks.
