Newcomer Reception Centres: Your questions answered Part 1

Answering resident questions on Newcomer Reception Centres A new centre to support refugees, which is comprised of asylum seekers and migrants, is planned to be built at the Nepean Sportsplex by the end of next year. This is the first building of its type to be established in our city, and it has raised a lot of questions from the community about its purpose.  A second building has been proposed in Kanata, but it is contingent on whether there is need for additional capacity and whether funding is provided to the City. We understand that newcomer reception centres are a new concept and bring uncertainty, raising resident questions and concern. Earlier this month, we invited residents to submit their feedback to us through Engage Ottawa. We continue to listen carefully and respond to your questions and feedback. This article is the first of a series over the next few weeks. We take a look at some of the top comments that have been sent in so far – to provide clarity and a better understanding of how these centres support  asylum seekers and migrants and how they positively impact our housing and homelessness initiatives and programs.

1. Will you be funding the construction of the reception centres through municipal tax dollars?

Establishing the reception centres is a response to irregular migration, which is a federal issue. No municipal tax dollars will be used to fund the construction of the centres. We have been in discussions with Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada over the past year for federal funding to create a sustainable newcomer welcome and reception system in Ottawa. A formal request for commitment of funding for the Newcomer Reception System has been submitted. The funding request will be updated as our plans are finalized.

2. Why did you not consider using existing infrastructure instead of building these new centres?

A thorough and extensive review of existing and available structures was conducted over the last year before settling on the current model. Many options were considered during a third-party expert review.  The tensile membrane structures were chosen due to quick building timelines, costs, and adaptability. These structures are not tents. They are like any other building with a heating and cooling system, kitchen amenities and plumbing. Reception centres are an important first step in the resettlement process for asylum seekers and migrants. They are not the only solution that we are pursuing to provide temporary shelter for asylum seekers and migrants. They are part of a broader strategy that includes using brick and mortar buildings as transitional housing. This includes the National Capital Region YMCA and a former nunnery at 1754 St. Joseph Boulevard.

3. Once centres are no longer needed, will you be turning them into homeless shelters?

There are no plans to convert newcomer reception centres into homeless shelters or emergency overflow centres. The structures are being purpose built in response to significant pressure on the existing shelter system that currently sees asylum seekers and migrants make up 60 per cent of clients. Any future considerations on adapting the structures for alternate uses would involve community discussion and engagement. If you want more information on the newcomer reception centre project, you can visit our Engage Ottawa page. You can also check out our previous story where we answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

• Newcomer Reception Centres: What You Need to Know

We encourage everyone to follow our series of articles and continue to ask questions at Engage Ottawa. Together, we can continue the tradition of being a welcoming city. For more information on City programs and services, visit ottawa.ca, call 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) or 613-580-2400 to contact the City using Canada Video Relay Service. You can also connect with us through Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.