Refugees

IRCC Questions:

Strengthening our Canadian fabric

• How many newcomers should we welcome to Canada in 2017 and beyond?
• How can we best support newcomers to ensure they become successful members of our communities?
• Do we have the balance right among the immigration programs or streams? If not, what priorities should form the foundation of Canada's immigration planning?

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LASI and OCASI Statement on the death of Abdirahman Abdi

[La version française se trouve plus loin.]

Ottawa/July 28, 2016 - Local Agencies Serving Immigrants (LASI) – Ottawa and OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants are deeply concerned and saddened by the death of Abdirahman Abdi.

PRESS RELEASE

June 20, 2016/Toronto - Today, on World Refugee Day, OCASI calls on all Ontarians to create welcoming communities for refugees and to play a meaningful role in eliminating barriers that prevent refugees from fully participating in Canadian society.

The United Nations says, “Every minute eight people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror.” This does not mean that people arrive to safety or that they are welcomed immediately by any country, be it neighboring or far away.

In December 2015, the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants with financial support from the Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration, and International Trade (MCIIT), undertook an environmental scan to assess the existing capacity and service gaps of refugee and immigrant-serving organizations in Ontario to meet the needs of large numbers of Syrian refugee arrivals.

Media Release

April 1, 2016/Toronto – A Toronto coalition of community-based organizations is commemorating Refugee Rights Awareness Month 2016 in Toronto at a public forum on Monday April 4 2016, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm at Women’s College Hospital, and by calling for:

Debbie Douglas, Executive Director was Co-Chair of the 18th National Metropolis Conference held in Toronto from March 3-5, 2016. (Click here for Debbie’s welcome remarks).

OCASI also had a strong presence throughout the conference at plenary sessions, and as presenter and organizer at the following concurrent breakout sessions:

Media Release
For Immediate Release

Ontario-wide public education campaign launched against xenophobia, islamophobia, and racism

12 February 2016/Toronto – As Ontario welcomes refugees from Syria, OCASI - Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants is launching a province-wide public education campaign for the prevention of xenophobia, islamophobia, and racism.