Legislation

OCASI Executive Director Debbie Douglas appeared as a witness before the Standing Committee on Justice Policy on 16 April 2015 to make a submission on Bill 49 - Ontario Immigration Act, 2015.

The OCASI submission makes several recommendations to strengthen the Bill, including: prioritize permanent immigration over temporary migration; expanding Provincial Nominee Program selection to include low-skilled workers; and strengthen protection of employment and labour protection for migrant workers.

The Ontario government is pushing Bill 18, Stronger Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2014 through the legislature to have it passed as soon as possible. The Bill amends various employment-related statutes, with many of the proposed changes impacting temporary help workers.

What are the current pathways to Canadian citizenship for Toronto's residents? Are these changing? What are the barriers and what supports can we put in place?

Date: Thursday, March 27, 2014
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

(Registration starts at 9:00 a.m.)
Location: Toronto City Hall, Council Chambers 100 Queen Street West

OCASI submitted the following letter in response to the posting of proposed regulatory changes regarding the reporting requirements for "designated foreign nationals" as required by the recent passing of Bill C-31 into legislation.  The posting on the Gazette can be found here.  

The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) was invited to participate in hearings on Bill C-31 held by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

March 29, 2009: Visitors from Croatia no longer require a Temporary resident visa.

The Issue

Comments on proposed change to Immigration regulations with respect to proposed “conditional permanent residence” for sponsored spouses
Published by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in Canada Gazette, Part I, Vol. 146, No. 10 - March 10, 2012