Ottawa evaluating Toronto request for help sheltering homeless during cold snap
TORONTO — Federal Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Ralph Goodale says Ottawa is working with Toronto and Ontario officials to help ease an unprecedented strain on Toronto’s homeless shelter system as temperatures fall to new lows.
Goodale says options are being evaluated to find the most effective solution as quickly as possible following a request from Toronto’s mayor to open a federal armoury to shelter the homeless.
Environment Canada has issued a new extreme cold warning advisory for the city, predicting overnight temperatures of as low as -25 C with wind chill values that could make it feel like -40 C.
After nearly two weeks of similar conditions, Tory bowed to public pressure to seek permission to open the Moss Park Armoury, which is owned by the federal government.