Armouries ‘Not the Appropriate Place’ to Host Homeless, Defence Minister Told Toronto Mayor

Defence Minister Bill Blair says he told Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow that Canadian Armed Forces armouries in her city should not serve as homeless shelters. “The armouries are not vacant buildings just waiting to be exploited for any purpose,” Mr. Blair said while appearing before the House of Commons defence committee on Nov. 23. The minister said he had a long conversation with Ms. Chow and shared his “very strong opinion” that armouries are “not the appropriate place to house the homeless.” Ms. Chow sent a letter to Mr. Blair on Nov. 20 asking him to make the Fort York and Moss Park armouries available to host homeless refugees and to provide resources and funding. The letter follows a motion adopted by the city council on Nov. 8 to that effect....