Paul Johnson refuses to act on Ombudsman’s report unless city council intervenes

In 2022 and 2023, a notable issue arose at Toronto City Hall regarding how the city managed its homeless shelters in relation to refugee claimants. The city faced criticism when it was reported that it had been turning away refugees seeking assistance, leading to an inquiry by Ombudsman Kwame Addo. The report claimed that the city's actions resulted in systemic discrimination based on citizenship and race, violating multiple human rights policies. In response, Paul Johnson, Toronto's city manager, publicly rejected the report's findings. He stated that he found it accusatory and insisted that any actions to address the report would only occur if mandated by the city council. Johnson expressed pride in his staff's efforts, arguing that they were operating under challenging circumstances where they were overwhelmed with rising homelessness while simultaneously dealing with the influx of refugee claimants. He cited concerns that continuing to take in refugees would exacerbate the crisis for local residents needing access to shelters. Despite the federal government's intervention to assist with housing refugee claimants, Johnson maintained that the Ombudsman's assertions regarding the right to adequate housing in city policy were overly demanding and regarded them as aspirational rather than obligatory. Nevertheless, he highlighted the importance of supporting civil servants who were striving to assist both refugees and those experiencing homelessness in the city amidst a significantly strained system. Johnson's stance reflects a broader debate within city politics about the balance between humanitarian efforts and the capacity of local services.