OCASI has submitted 11 strategic recommendations to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance to the Committee’s annual pre-budget consultations
Recommendations
1. Invest adequately, appropriately and equitably in settlement services and language training for all refugees and migrants, regardless of immigration status. – say something about potential cuts – Include investment in Francophone settlement outside Quebec.
2. Adopt a “National Plan for Asylum with Dignity.” It will model refugee reception on the holistic support provided to Ukrainians in 2022–2023, including intake centres, immediate work permits, and federal housing/shelter support.
3. Protect and invest in refugee and immigration legal aid, and migrant worker support centres.
4. Establish an independent racial equity review of the immigration and refugee system to make it fair and equitable. [There is evidence of systemic disparities in approval rates by country of origin, particularly for African, Caribbean, and Black applicants.
5. Rescind the Canada–U.S. Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). The agreement undermines equitable refugee protection; the U.S. is not a safe country for all asylum seekers; and withdraw Bill C-2 Strong Borders Act.
6. Introduce a comprehensive regularization program for everyone with undocumented or precarious immigration status including a one-step Permanent Residency pathway for undocumented individuals, rejected claimants, and people on precarious temporary status.
7. Ensure full access to federal benefits and social insurance (EI, CPP, WSIB) for all contributors regardless of immigration status, including migrant workers.
8. Accelerate the launch and implementation of a new Employment Equity Act, committing $20 million over the next three years for the speedy development of a new Employment Equity regime.
9. Invest $360 million over three years to address violence against women and gender-based violence.
10. Expand the Canada Child Benefit (CCB) to all children residing in Canada, regardless of immigration status.
11. Reconfigure the National Housing Strategy to provide housing for the most vulnerable.