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OCASI statement on the attack on a Muslim family in London, Ontario

Toronto / June 8, 2021

OCASI is shocked and outraged by the mass murder of a Muslim family in London, Ontario on Sunday June 6, 2021. It was a deliberate act of hate, Islamophobia and terrorism.

The Council is deeply grieved and saddened by the tragic loss of four lives of a family who were deliberately targeted because of their Muslim faith. We offer our deepest condolences to their young son who has lost his entire family to this violent attack, and to the families and communities affected.

OCASI statement in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

Toronto/June 2, 2021

OCASI – Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants mourns the children found in unmarked burial sites at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School. Our hearts are heavy at the profound loss of 215 young lives cut short, to the families, communities, Indigenous Peoples and the country.

March 16, 2020 / Toronto - OCASI wrote to Ontario Minister of Health -Christine Elliott, and Minister of Children, Community and Social Services - Todd Smith to ask the people with precarious immigration status are included in the Ontario government's actions to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

OCASI specifically asked the Ministers to ensure that all Ontario residents have access to free, universal and expanded healthcare, including testing, without regard to immigration status or length of residence in Ontario.

The Ontario government has developed a screening tool and other information and resources that can be used by community organizations to support communities in staying safe and healthy.

These resources are shared by Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

OCASI is concerned about ensuring all refugees, immigrants and migrants are included in provincial as well as federal and municipal government responses to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

OCASI had a strong presence at the International Metropolis Conference 2019 held on June 24 to 28 in Ottawa – Gatineau.

We acknowledge with gratitude financial support from World Education Services (WES) that made it possible for OCASI staff and member agencies to attend the Conference.

Almost 30% of Ontario residents were born outside Canada. Immigrants, refugees, migrant workers and international students are critical to Ontario’s economic growth, and make Ontario communities strong.

Municipal leaders have an important role to play in building strong communities that welcome everyone, and that build on the full potential of refugees, immigrants and migrants.

Asylum seekers (in Canada use the term refugee claimant) have the legal right to cross the border and enter Canada to make a refugee claim. Asylum seekers are crossing irregularly – between ports of entry - but that is not illegal. They are doing so to because the Safe Third Country Agreement (2004) between Canada and the United States requires Canada to send refugee claimants back to the U.S., with a few exceptions. The Safe Third Country Agreement applies only to refugee claims made at border crossings.

Know your rights is a Guide to access to health care for uninsured and precarious status migrants in Ontario.

Click here to download the Guide [PDF, 640 kb].

Produced by OHIP For All, the guide was originally developed and maintained by Health4All. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact ohipforall@gmail.com.

Earlier this month the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) released the report Under Suspicion: Research and Consultation Report on Racial Profiling in Ontario.  It is chockful of personal examples of how racial profiling tears at the soul of those profiled, reinforces the sense of otherness that many who are racialized experience, and undermines the social cohesion we so desperately need if this Canadian political project of diversity and inclusion is to be a success.