A refugee advocacy group is organizing a rally to support planned welcome centres for asylum seekers and to counter what they say is misinformation fuelling a campaign against the tent-like shelters.
Refugee613 is organizing a demonstration in Nepean on Sunday to show solidarity with asylum seekers and to support plans for two “newcomer reception centres” that aim to relieve pressure on Ottawa’s struggling shelter system.
“Ottawa has a proud history of welcoming refugees and other newcomers,” the group said in a post promoting the rally.
Plans to build two tent-like structures to temporarily house 300 asylum seekers have proved controversial.
The city has chosen a site in Nepean for the first centre, after Barrhaven East Coun. Wilson Lo and Barrhaven West Coun David Hill tried to block them from coming to their wards.
Several hundred people protested in Barrhaven last week to oppose the shelters being built in the suburb.