OCASI latest articles

Advocacy and All Other Such Things

Type: 
Executive Director's Message

At the end of May, I received an e-mail from my colleague-friend Anon who indicated that news was expected from the federal Minister of Citizenship and Immigration - news that would be pleasing to OCASI. Now news from the Minister isn't surprising. We've had at least one policy announcement or regulation change or musings from the Minister on a daily basis (or so it seems) since he was appointed the Immigration, Citizenship and Multiculturalism portfolio. But pleasing to OCASI?  Long story short, a few days later Twitter was abuzz with the news. Access to citizenship would be made easier.

Proposed immigration sponsorship changes will keep families apart

Policy: 
Integration and Settlement
Type: 
Position Papers & Backgrounders

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.

OCASI Media Release: Voluntary National Household Survey does not capture true state of Canada

Policy: 
Policy
Type: 
Media Releases

08 May 2013/Toronto – OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants is deeply concerned that the Statistics Canada Voluntary Household Survey released today does not capture the full reality of Canada's populations, such as racialized residents, and foreign-born individuals.

The Voluntary Household Survey notes that foreign-born residents were one-fifth, or 20.6% of the Canadian population in 2011. It notes that recent immigrants (2006-2011) represented 3.5% of the total population and 17.2% of the foreign-born population.

Immigrant Women Services Ottawa - ‘The Most Important Thing’

Type: 
Article

Immigrant Women Services Ottawa (IWSO) is one of Ontario's leaders from the immigrant and refugee-serving sector in advocating for and working towards equity and justice for immigrant, refugee and racialized women. To that end, IWSO is working with United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) World Refugee Day - marked by the UN on June 20 each year - photo project, `The Most Important Thing`, to help bring awareness to the impact war has on families.

Planning Your Choices . . . Protecting Your Rights

Type: 
Article

Recently the Consent and Capacity Board of Ontario (CCB) launched a new public education program entitled, “Time to talk about the end of life.” The CCB is an independent body that holds hearings to consider fair and accessible adjudication of consent and capacity issues of individual. The CCB held a few pilot presentations in the Greater Toronto Area, which were well received by community groups. This project has been initiated to have the CCB be part of the growing conversation among Ontarians about planning their acute care choices and protecting their rights.

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