Toronto / October 16, 2020 - OCASI made the following pre-budget submission today to Ontario Ministry of Finance.

Novel Coronavirus/CORVID-19

The novel coronavirus outbreak - now named as CORVID-19 - has us all worried for our own health and the health and safety of our loved ones.

October 10, 2019

What we want
We want policies and services that support immigrants and refugees so they can thrive as members of our communities.

This must include a meaningful discussion about the reality of structural racism in Canada. It robs newcomers and our communities of the opportunity to realize their full potential. Let’s face divisions head on and focus on strategies that we know work to foster greater equality, unity, individual and community wellbeing, and shared prosperity. We can do better.

October 10, 2019

Countering misinformation about immigrants and refugees in Canada

Federal elections are about the battle of ideas over what kind of Canada we want to be—and sometimes things get heated.

Then there are the tough conversations. A recent Samara survey of Canadian social media users, for instance, says Canadians find it more difficult to have conversations about issues like immigration and multiculturalism.

Toronto / March 2019

"I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own”

and

“The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house”

- Audre Lorde

Two quotes from the late prolific writer, lesbian-feminist, social justice warrior, Librarian Audre Lorde. Apt quotes I would say for the political moment in which we find ourselves especially this month as we mark International Women’s Day, a nod to working women although that herstory is often overlooked.

August 2018

It is the beginning of August and as it is every year after the celebration of the Caribbean Carnival formerly known as Caribana, and the celebration of Emancipation of people of African Descent from enslavement in the Americas (including Canada), there’s always this sense that this is the beginning of the end of summer.

Update

Click here to read the response to OCASI's questions from the Ontario NDP, received on May 14, 2018.

We will post responses from other political parties whenever they are received.

Questions for Candidates

Ontario Election Day is June 7, 2018

 Download the Fact Sheet and Questions in PDF

OCASI canvassed the major political parties for their views on seven questions that are of interest to OCASI member agencies and Ontario's immigrant and refugee communities. Included are questions on settlement services for immigrants and refugees, refugee sponsorship, family reunification, citizenship and permanent residency for migrant workers.

The questions were sent on August 5, 2015 to the following: Conservative Party, Green Party, Liberal Party and New Democratic Party. Please see below for the responses received to-date (in the order of receipt):

What are the next steps in facilitating civic participation of newcomers? What are the barriers and how do we address them?

Open Dialogue Event - Thursday, January 16, 2014

Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
(Registration starts at 9:00 a.m.)

Location: The 519 Church Street Community Centre, 2nd Floor Auditorium

December 10 celebrates international human rights and the inherent dignity and equal rights of all members of the human family. Refugees are part of the human family and entitled to the same rights.These rights include the rights to asylum, to liberty, to protection from torture, to an adequate standard of living, to healthcare, to be reunited with family and to protection of the best interests of children.