Beyond Austerity: Building a Resilient Future for Our Sector
The last week has been a whirlwind of meetings in Ottawa with colleagues from across the country, and the federal funder of our sector; with a side trip to our appointed House of sober second thought, as a witness to the Senate Committee on National Finance. They are studying housing, including the newly formed Build Canada Homes entity charged with building affordable rental housing.
Equity in Focus: Sexual and Reproductive Health for South Asian Newcomer Women
The 14th Annual Health Equity Summit by CASSA explores the disproportionate impact of health disparities on marginalized communities, with a focus on South Asian and other racialized groups. This year, the Summit will focus on sexual and reproductive health outcomes among South Asian newcomer women. Tuesday, November 18, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. via zoom.
OCASI’s Equity Stream Fund Program - Call for Proposals is Open!
The Equity Stream Fund is a three-year initiative funded by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This program aims to strengthen the capacity of incorporated and unincorporated Grassroots Community Organizations (GCOs) led by and serving equity-seeking communities across Ontario. Application deadline: Friday, December 19 2025 at 5:00 p.m. EST.
Programme de Fonds du volet de l'équité d'OCASI - L'appel à propositions est ouvert !
Les Fonds du volet de l'équité sont une initiative de trois ans financée par Immigration, Réfugiés et Citoyenneté Canada (IRCC). Ce programme vise à renforcer les capacités d'organismes communautaires de base incorporés et non incorporés dirigés par et servant les communautés en quête d'équité partout en Ontario. Les demandes de financement seront acceptées jusqu'au vendredi 19 décembre 2025 à 17h00 HNE.
This federal budget falls short on Canada’s commitment to immigrants and refugees. It misses the opportunity to maximize the economic potential and promise of immigration at a time when collaboration with immigrant and refugee communities is crucial for economic growth.
Study on Housing - Senate Committee on National Finance
Debbie Douglas, OCASI Executive Director appeared recently as a witness before the Senate Committee on National Finance, on their study on federal programs and initiatives to support the creation of housing.
Cybersecurity Webinar - Protecting Data and Privacy Considerations
OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants will host a series of SettlementAtWork.Org|SecteurEtablissement.Org cybersecurity webinars in partnership with The Catalyst team. December 2, 2025.
Webinaire sur la cybersecurité - Protection des données et considérations relatives à la confidentialité
OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants organisera une série de SettlementAtWork.Org|SecteurEtablissement.Org webinaires sur la cybersécurité, en partenariat avec l'équipe Catalyst. 2 décembre 2025.
Settlement and Integration Policy and Program Committee Seeking Input
Take a national survey by the IRCC-led Settlement and Integration Policy and Program Committee, on digital capacity and challenges in online and hybrid service delivery in IRCC-funded organizations. Help to ensure the recommendations meet sector needs. Available in English and French.
Le Comité chargé de la Politique et du Programme d’Immigration et d’Intégration sollicite votre avis
Participer à un sondage national sur les capacités numériques et les défis liés à la prestation de services en ligne et hybrides. Ce sondage vise à identifier les défis et les lacunes en matière de capacités dans le secteur, afin de garantir que nos recommandations concernant les outils, la formation et l'allocation des ressources répondent aux besoins du secteur.
The Asylum Program Division of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be offering additional sessions of the technical briefings on refugee claim processes Tuesday, December 2, 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Sessions are available on other dates.
IRCC Séances d'information techniques sur les processus de demande d’asile
La Division du programme d'asile d'Immigration, réfugiés et citoyenneté Canada (IRCC) offrira de nouvelles séances d'information techniques sur les processus de demande d’asile Mardi le 18 novembre de 13h30 à 14h30. Des séances sont disponibles à d’autres dates.
Empower Your Agency with the OCASI Client Management System (OCMS)
OCMS is a secure, cloud-based data management platform designed by and for the immigrant and refugee-serving sector. It streamlines client services, enhances efficiency, and saves valuable time for both staff and clients. Join our growing community of users — contact us at ocmssupport@ocasi.org to learn more.
SECTOR HAPPENINGS
We’re Better Together
In Canada, we speak many languages, come from many places, and across our differences, we look out for each other. It’s time we join together and show where we stand: in support of a future where all families can thrive.
Our Canada includes immigrants and refugees. If you agree we’re better together, add your name now.
OCASI is a proud partner.
The Canadian Radio and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) is launching a public consultation to help ensure that broadcasters, including online streaming services, make their content more accessible for persons with disabilities. CRTC is accepting comments until December 16, 2025.
Workplace Interventions on Sexual Harassment (WISH)
The WISH Project by Canadian Council of Muslim Women (CCMW) addresses workplace sexual harassment, with a focus on newcomer and racialized Muslim women. CCMW invites small to medium-sized employers to complete a short survey to help better understand existing supports, challenges, and opportunities for improving workplace practices.
Call for Agencies: Update Your 211 Ontario Profile
211 Ontario makes referrals every day based on the details you provide. Keeping your profile current ensures your programs and services can be found easily. Has your agency added new programs or made changes to existing ones? Review and update your services in the 211 Update Portal.
Asking Employers For Accommodation - recorded webinar
Learn how to support clients to ask for an accommodation at work in Ontario. This could be related to a person’s health condition, disability, gender identity, faith or other area. A resource from CLEO.
Nonprofits and Charities in the 2025 Federal Budget
Read the Imagine Canada statement on the 2025 Federal Budget and what it holds for the non-profit sector. Also, the budget introduces several measures affecting charities and nonprofits, alongside continued investments in key community priorities. Read a blog by law firm Miller Thompson, exploring these new measures from a legal perspective.
EVENTS
Rage & Rise: 25 Years of Resistance
Asian Canadian Labour Alliance of B.C. and Ontario celebrate their 25th anniversary online!
Nov 15, 2025 10:30am PT/1:30 PM ET.
Presentation of a study by Canadian market research company Leger that analyzes the experiences of recent immigrants to Canada. This edition will focus on perceptions of welcome and safety, and newcomers’ financial needs — banking choices, attitudes toward money, saving, and investing. On November 19 2025.
In 2024 Workers Action Centre (WAC) surveyed 513 workers in Toronto about the problems they experience at work. This report outlines the scope and causes of what WAC is calling an epidemic of wage theft in Ontario and proposes meaningful solutions.
A new report is providing a comprehensive evaluation of Canada's implementation of the International Labour Organization's (ILO) Decent Work Guidelines in the agri-food sector, with researchers from Dalhousie University, St. Thomas University and McMaster University recommending several ways to better protect migrant workers' rights.
What’s Working, What’s Not: Safeguarding Ontario’s Future through IES Reform
The report identifies how the employment services sector impacts the clients it serves and assesses whether IES has improved outcomes across the province. It also highlights opportunities to strengthen Ontario’s employment services, emphasizing the need for fairness, inclusion, and continuity to build a stronger, more inclusive, and effective employment services system for the future.
AI with Purpose: How Foundations and Nonprofits are Thinking About and Using Artificial Intelligence
With the fast pace of relatively unregulated Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation and growth, the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) aimed to understand foundations’ and nonprofits’ understandings of, attitudes toward, and engagement with AI — and what role equity plays in these decisions.
Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada: Myths vs. Realities
The snapshot from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) tackles five of the most persistent myths about Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), separating evidence and program rules from perception and political rhetoric.
The Ministry of the Attorney General provides one-time funding to projects that support victims or prevent unlawful activities that result in victimization. In particular, the Program is focused on vulnerable victims of crime who may have difficulty, or face barriers accessing supports. Deadline November 17, 2025.
The HIV Endgame Program supports people and projects including innovative, discovery-based and investigator-driven-game-changing projects. Breaking New Ground, Implementation Science, Junior Investigator, and Postdoctoral Grants Letter of Intent deadline: Wednesday, November 19, 2025.
