Toronto / January 2026
We are in a season of uncertainty in the world. For those of us steeped in migration policies - from refugee and asylum policies, to the treatment of migrant workers, to settlement and ‘integration’ supports for immigrants - there is an emerging tension between the conflicting feelings of inertia and a sense of urgency.
I believe the inertia as expressed by some who have been in these trenches for decades is coming from the sense of being here before- a sense of ‘been there, done that’. This déjà vu has an underlying cynicism that seems new to me, however. We had made great strides over the past decade, picking up the progressive movement forward as a sector that began in the early 2000s. But was abruptly halted, and gains significantly reversed from around 2006 to 2015. During the reversal period, women, ethno-specific and disability organizations were most affected, especially those providing services to immigrant and refugee and racialized communities.
The last decade brought a sense of optimism as civil society organizations regrouped and built on the strong relations we had with bureaucrats charged with partnering and supporting civil society. We reestablished trust, worked hard to rebuild infrastructure, ensured the issues of society’s most marginalized were centred politically and policy-wise and that financial and technical resources were available to execute.
The abrupt change in policy direction, in the decentring and some would argue reversal of these policy and program priorities, especially in the immigrant and refugee-serving sector is breeding this deep cynicism and a growing apathy. It’s as if many of the OGs (Old Gang) are saying to ourselves, “why bother”? “what’s the point?”
Over the last weeks, even while on vacation in the sunny and warm Caribbean, I found myself falling into this camp’ Thinking of all the self healing activities I could do instead of this hard policy advocacy work. Banging against doors that have been slammed shut. Looking for new ways to engage and convince those in charge of policy and funding, that the plight of Canada’s most marginalized must be what drives their program and funding priorities, whether they’ve been here for nth generations or arrived last week.
My first meetings after the holidays quickly reminded me why we do what we do. Why we are committed to this sector and the important work undertaken by all who drive this critical ecosystem of care and support. In speaking to my OCASI colleagues, I heard of the broad range of excellent work grassroots organizations - not funded by government or large foundations - were doing in communities across the province. They are building communities, working to minimize the negative impact of neo-capitalism, the impact of growing xenophobia, and the shredding of the social safety net. They are ensuring that the elders among us have soft landings as they enter the winter season of their lives and that our young people have the tools and the opportunities to step into the world in their full potential. They reminded me that in spite of geopolitics, of changing political winds, goodness and care were still the watchwords of many.
My first external meeting with a member agency of the Council reinforced this. In a discussion about the unexpected funding cuts, the significant and regressive changes to im/migration policies and programs, the huge back logs in our immigration and refugee determination systems, the uncertainty that so many of our refugee claimants, migrant workers and international students are facing – the urgency of this moment for our sector must be seized.
A new leader in our sector, my colleague shared how she and her policy and government relations/public affairs team were champing at the bit , wanting to get going on collective action to find solutions to some of the pressing issues we are facing as a sector. A provider of emergency shelter and housing for Convention Refugees and asylum seekers, she talked about the need to renew the intergovernmental and sector -government partnerships as a way of addressing the housing and shelter crisis for refugee claimants/asylum-seekers, especially given the reality of the federal government ending its financial support for emergency housing for this population.
While the details of what we discussed are important, what stayed with me was her energy, her commitment to our shared mission and her faith in our collective abilities to find sustainable solutions and to move forward with progressive action even in the face of challenging political winds.
She renewed my hope. Reminded me that during the years of the most conservative government, we more than survived as a sector. That even with significant cuts to the broad non-profit sector, the elimination of policies and programs that advanced an antiracist, feminist, pro-humanitarian agenda, we found ways to ensure our sector survived and that the communities and individuals with who we work and support had some soft landings.
So my message in this month’s blog to all of us who have pledged our working and personal lives to building a Canada that is welcoming and supportive of all who reside here, is that hope is alive. That we can and will continue to move our collective agenda forward. We will speak truth to power, using all that we have learned over the years to hone our message and to realize the outcomes that we and our communities want and need.
In Solidarity
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