Dave Battagello, Windsor Star
Published: Friday, September 21, 2007

Nearly $250,000 has been spent so far to house and care for more than 200 Mexican refugee claimants who have streamed into Windsor in recent weeks.
"The system wasn't set up for this," Ronna Warsh, general manager of social services, said Thursday as the city released figures on what it's costing taxpayers to provide lodging and social services. "We could handle one or two or a few, certainly not on a regular basis like the numbers we are seeing."
As costs of housing the refugees threaten to destroy the city's social services budget, local politicians' pleas for help are so far being ignored by the federal government.

Mayor Eddie Francis has not yet received a response to the letter he sent Wednesday to Prime Minister Stephen Harper begging for help.
He fears the unknown: Some say thousands of refugee claimants will show up on Windsor's doorstep fleeing a U.S. crackdown on illegal aliens.
"We just don't know what the numbers are going to be. It's the uncertainty that causes us concern," Francis said. "The 200 we already have is a lot. It's 200 we didn't have last week and didn't expect.
"The word has spread like wildfire. It's being advertised down south where there is a large illegal immigrant population how you should go to Canada where you get free health care and social assistance.
"We don't have the ability financially to deal with this."
Lodging has totalled $197,000, with the city's share (20 per cent) equalling $39,400 as of Thursday. The remaining 80 per cent is paid by the province.
There have been 55 applicants for social assistance, with 32 meeting the criteria. The city has paid them $32,000 so far.
Another problem is Windsor's emergency shelters are full and should any emergency occur there would be nowhere to put people, Warsh said.
"It's going to depend on the winter. If we have an emergency in winter or our economy takes a big downturn and people lose their homes, we are really in trouble."
Windsor West MPP and provincial cabinet minister Sandra Pupatello has also asked the feds for help in Windsor. She made a similar request a few years ago when she was Ontario's social services minister.
"It's been a chronic issue. Federal legislation allows refugees this type of opportunity, yet they take no responsibility when they arrive.
"We've made repeated arguments to reimburse the province and cities for this. The feds should be picking up the tab."
Ontario's costs can add up to $10 million every year supporting refugees or sponsored immigrants who can also end up on welfare, she said.
VERY CONCERNED
"We are very concerned this has fallen on deaf ears," Pupatello said. "We want to help people who need help, but if federal rules are making it happen, they should reimburse the costs. "
There was little response Thursday from Ottawa.
Staff for local MP Jeff Watson (Conservative -- Essex) said he was busy Thursday in meetings and unable to respond, referring the issue to the Prime Minister's Office.
A spokesman for the prime minister said Thursday night that the prime minister's staff could not track down the mayor's letter requesting help and had no response.


As a side note i took my dog for a walk to the river this morning and was greeted by refugees sitting in the bushes drinking beer. If i hear Yo Holmes on more time i will Snap!!!!!!

Im not being racist or anything but this could become a HUGE problem very fast.... as far as i understand it we cant turn people back because the states will not take them back!

so unless the feds step in were fuc*ed.