OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants as well as other sector umbrella organizations across Canada were given the opportunity to provide a written submission to CIC NHQ with further input and suggestions on Canada's settlement policy following the conclusion of the National Settlement Conference Vision 2020.
The Agency of the Future Project, which began life as a partnership between Pathways to Prosperity and OCASI, focuses on developing a new business model for settlement agencies, one that is better attuned to emerging opportunities and constraints, as well as the sector's comparative strengths.
The changes to family sponsorship announced recently by the federal government will make it more difficult to sponsor children, and parents and grandparents and will ultimately keep Canadian immigrant families apart.
The proposed changes with respect to the sponsorship of parents and grandparents, and dependent children were announced on May 10 by Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney.
Ontario Budget 2013 tabled in the legislature on May 2, 2013 includes some benefits for immigrants and refugees. However, the continuing emphasis on austerity and balancing the budget will have an overall negative impact on these populations.
OCASI is deeply disappointed that the Budget fails to make equity-focused investments that would make a positive difference.
Overall Budget
The federal budget 2013 released on Thursday March 21 is a mixed bag for Immigration, Citizenship, Settlement and Integration. The budget includes funding to expedite the Temporary Resident Program ($42m over two years) and the Citizenship program ($44m over two years).
December 18 is International Migrants' Day. In Canada there is much to reflect on. The strides we've made over the past decades in creating a nation that is welcoming, that values the contribution of immigrants and that takes its obligation to protecting those in need of asylum and refuge seriously.
OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants is deeply disturbed by the implementation today, of ‘conditional permanent residence' for some sponsored spouses and partners. The Council is concerned that this measure will increase inequalities in relationships between spouses, and would put women in particular at heightened risk of violence.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will implement new language rules for citizenship applicants as of November 1st. Applicants aged 18-54 are required to provide upfront proof of speaking and listening proficiency in English or French at Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4.
Background
The government has introduced Bill C-31 as a way to reform Canada's refugee determination system. The Bill as written will not protect refugees, but will punish them instead.
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