A successful motion from Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam asked Tory to declare an emergency in the shelter system and move immediately to open new beds. The motion also asked the Mayor to work with staff and request the federal government to open the Fort York and Moss Park Armouries for shelter. It passed 4-1. Councillor Michael Ford was the only councillor against. “We don’t have the luxury to be patient anymore,” Wong-Tam told the committee. “We are in an emergency situation, which means that we have to respond accordingly.” “People are going to die this winter. I think that we can logically assume that’s going to happen.”