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Des organisations au service des nouveaux arrivants saluent les plans de réinstallation de 25 000 réfugiés syriens

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News release/ 3 December 2015

(TORONTO, November 19, 2015) - Anti-racism groups condemned the alarming rise in hate crimes across the country in recent days, and called on Canadians to stand together against hatred and violence here at home.

November 17, 2015/Toronto – OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants strongly condemns the recent arson attack on the Kawartha Muslim Religious Association's Masjid Al-Salaam in Peterborough, and the vandalism at the Ram Dham Hindu Temple in Kitchener.

The Council is concerned by these attacks as well as other escalating expressions of Islamaphobia, racism and xenophobia, which in our present reality are primarily targeting Muslims, and Canadian residents of Arab and South Asian background.

OCASI Executive Director Debbie Douglas was interviewed on 'The Current' on CBC radio on Thursday November 12,2015, about how the immigrant and refugee-serving sector is preparing for the arrival of Syrian refugees.

Click here to listen to the interview (from 12:40).

Follow Debbie Douglas on twitter.

October 28, 2015/Toronto - As the newly elected government of Canada is set to be sworn into office, OCASI is encouraged by the Prime Minister Designate's leadership in countering a growing divisiveness and xenophobia through an expression of unity and appreciation of diversity in Canada. We look forward to the full realization of that message through strong public policy measures, including public education initiatives that will build equitable opportunities for all Canadian residents.

New Report - Envisioning LGBT Refugee Rights in Canada: Is Canada a Safe Haven?

The final report from the Envisioning Global LGBT Human Rights research project, released on September 29, 2015 looks at the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) asylum seekers living in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) and the experiences of community service providers. The report offers 37 recommendations for improving policies and services.

The purpose of this meeting is to provide Torontonians with information and tangible action plans around how to assist people impacted by the ongoing refugee crisis. We have been hearing that, while several Canadians have already opened their homes, many more do not know how to get involved with  the various initiatives currently taking place in Toronto or where to obtain the necessary information.

On May 15, 2015, OCASI Executive Director Debbie Douglas spoke at a Special Plenary Session on “Fostering the Belonging of Migrants in Canada” at the 8th Annual Conference of the Canadian Association for Refugee and Forced Migration Studies (CARFMS). The Conference was hosted by Department of Criminology, Ryerson University in collaboration with the Ryerson Centre for Immigration and Settlement (RCIS).

Update: The government has included in the Budget Bill (C-43), provisions from Bill C-585 that may lead to refugee claimants being denied access to social assistance. The Budget Bill was introduced on Thursday October 23, 2014. It is making its way very quickly through the House of Commons.