Toronto’s new mayor has released a statement following Tuesday’s announcement by the Trudeau Liberals offering $97-million to Toronto to help asylum seekers arriving in this city.

Olivia Chow says senior staff with all three levels of government had a productive discussion at Tuesday’s senior operations and emergency management table.

As the first order of business at city council Wednesday, she says she will be introducing a motion on the refugee shelter and housing crisis as her first item.

Toronto’s new mayor goes on to say she’s been speaking with the premier, prime minister, big city mayors across Canada and City of Toronto staff to ensure action can be taken quickly to address this crisis.

The announcement by Federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser came after refugees spent their first night sleeping inside at a North York church, after spending weeks camped out on the sidewalks of a homeless support centre on Peter St. in downtown Toronto.

“Our modelling demonstrates this should more than cover the cost of interim housing for the people who are currently being denied access to the shelter system by the City of Toronto,” Fraser explained.

In total, the federal Liberals are offering $210-million to help asylum seekers nationwide.