We begin the year in a celebratory and anticipatory mood in Ontario as we welcome the proclamation of Ontario’s Immigration Act on January 1, 2018 which received Royal Assent in May, 2015. The legislation “positions Ontario as a full partner in immigration with the federal government, with an enhanced role in immigration selection aimed at attracting more economic immigrants”, says the recently released 2017 progress report, Our Foundation for Tomorrow, Ontario’s Immigration Strategy.
The Hear It! Stop It! #NoBystanders campaign is part of The 519’s drive to challenge homophobic, biphobic and transphobic behaviour and to foster LGBTQ inclusive environments. All organizations and individuals have the responsibility to ensure that people feel able to be themselves, free from bullying and abusive language.
The campaign and education program provides organizations, LGBTQ community members and their allies with the resources to make Canadian workplaces, services and community environments welcoming, safe and inclusive.
This Colour of Poverty-Colour of Change (COP-COC) project by OCASI plans to increase access to justice for users of administrative tribunals by racialized communities in Ontario. It will build capacity and champion the implementation of race-based data collection within the administrative tribunal system. Project partners: Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic, Rexdale Community Legal Clinic, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario.
17 enthusiastic and energetic sector practitioners from across Ontario have completed OCASI School of Social Justice (SSJ) 2017. The SSJ builds the organizing and advocacy capacity of OCASI member agencies by supporting sector practitioners to strengthen social policy analysis and building skills for organizing and social, political economic justice action.
Community Roundtable: Access to Shelters for LGBTQIA+ Immigrants and Refugees
OCASI in partnership with Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services, Catholic Crosscultural Services, The Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto and The 519 will host a FREE PSI Community Roundtable Discussion on Tuesday, February 6th, 2018 from 8:30 am - 4:30 pm at The 519 - Grand Ballroom, 519 Church Street, Toronto (Church and Wellesley).
Creating Inclusive Spaces for Immigrants and Refugees with In/Visible Disabilities
Register for the OCASI Accessibility Initiative webinar series on how to welcome and support immigrants and refugees with in/visible disabilities. Featuring subject matter experts, webinars are targeted to frontline workers, Managers and Executive Directors. Management Series begins January 12, 2018. Frontline Series begins January 16, 2018.
Register for a new OCASI Positive Spaces Initiative (PSI) webinar series for Frontline Workers, and for Management respectively. Experts on mental health, human rights, advocacy, and capacity building will speak about equitable service provision for LGBTQIA+ immigrants and refugees. Frontline series begins Thursday, January 11, 2018. Management series begins Friday, January 12, 2018.
Workers Action Centre is providing FREE training to frontline settlement workers on new legislative protections coming into effect in 2018 including minimum wage, personal emergency leave, equal pay for equal work, public holiday pay and more. Sessions will be held at WAC (Toronto) in February and March. Contact Deborah Williams to arrange training in other Ontario cities - dwilliams@workersactioncentre.org 416-531-0778 ext 300.
The Ministry of Labour has updated the Employment Standards Poster (ver 7.0) which describes rights and requirements under the Employment Standards Act. Employers are required to post it in the workplace where it is likely that employees will see it, and must provide employees with a print or electronic copy. Click here to download and print the poster Ontario.ca/ESAposter.
Taking the pulse: Peoples’ opinions on Human Rights in Ontario
The Ontario Human Rights Commission released the results of a 2017 public opinion survey about people’s attitudes, awareness, and experiences of human rights and discrimination in the province.
Employment and Social Development Canada has announced funding for the 2018 Canada Summer Jobs Program (CSJ). CSJ provides funding to not-for-profit organizations (and some others) to create summer job opportunities for young people aged 15 to 30 years who are full-time secondary and post-secondary students intending to return to their studies in the next school year. Application deadline Friday, February 2, 2018.
17 enthusiastic and energetic sector practitioners from across Ontario have completed OCASI School of Social Justice (SSJ) 2017. The SSJ builds the organizing and advocacy capacity of OCASI member agencies by supporting sector practitioners to strengthen social policy analysis and building skills for organizing and social, political economic justice action.
