Toronto has taken a baby step towards living up to its self-declared status as a “sanctuary city” for undocumented residents, by adopting some key recommendations.

Council voted 29-8 Tuesday to take concrete steps on a plan to give Toronto’s estimated 200,000 non-status residents access to city services without fear of being turned over to border enforcement officials — including training city staff and revising policies to prevent discrimination based on immigration status.

“Last year, the city just committed itself to being a sanctuary city safe for people without immigration status, but not a lot has happened,” said Tzazna Miranda Leal of the Solidarity City Network, an umbrella advocacy group.

“This will help the city to start hammering out a detailed plan to make it a reality, and give city staff the tools they need to make it happen.”

Supporters have argued that non-status residents support the services they are often denied by paying property taxes through their rent, HST through purchases of goods and services, and often income tax.

Without an “access without fear” policy, they say, undocumented people may be reluctant to come forward as witnesses or victims of crime. Full access to public-health programs may also enhance community health.

Among the items adopted by council Tuesday:

Allowing immigration/citizenship information to be collected only when required by provincial and federal law.

Asking the city solicitor to study whether Toronto can withhold such information unless through informed consent of the resident concerned.

Implementing a compulsory training program in all city departments and agencies to train staff and volunteers regarding access to city services for undocumented people.

Advocating with the province and Ottawa regarding access to child care subsidies, social assistance, health care and housing for the undocumented.

Including immigration status in the city’s human rights and anti-harassment/discrimination policy, to ensure undocumented people receive equal treatment.

Exploring the idea of introducing a municipal ID card for the undocumented.

Encouraging other cities to follow suit, through sharing the new policies with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

The move was met by criticism from some right-leaning members of council.

“We should not reward illegal immigrants. It sends a message to the rest of the world that you can benefit by breaking the rules and jumping the queue,” said Councillor Denzil Minnan-Wong (Ward 34, Don Valley East).

“We shouldn’t be giving them additional benefits because it’s an insult to all the hundreds of thousands of people that have followed the rules and waited their time in line to come into Canada and come in lawfully.”

Councillor Joe Mihevc (Ward 21, St. Paul’s) pointed out that the sanctuary policy had already been adopted in last February’s landmark 37-3 decision and said the debate should focus on its implementation.

“What this report does is a progress report on . . . how we, as a city, are going to implement the policy,” he said.

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Councillor and mayoral candidate Karen Stintz (Ward 16, Eglinton-Lawrence) said she is sympathetic to the undocumented but did not support the recommendations because the federal government should not be left off the hook, and only Ottawa can address the roots of the problem.

“This is not the city’s business,” said Stintz.

With files from Paul Moloney

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