Media Releases

Toronto / June 4, 2024

OCASI strongly condemns the anti-immigrant and anti-refugee sentiments expressed last week by Ontario Premier Ford in his comments regarding a school shooting in Toronto. These sentiments stereotype and scapegoat refugees and immigrants, and only serve to deepen existing xenophobia, and divide rather than unite. Words matter, especially from heads of government and elected leaders.

Toronto / October 19, 2023

As we witness a long-standing humanitarian crisis escalate in Palestine and Israel, we are deeply troubled by the impact on people here in Canada as well – many who have themselves fled violence in the region and other parts of the world.

Media release

FCJ Refugee Centre
COSTI Community Services
Skills For Change

Toronto / June 28, 2023

Community groups in Toronto are calling on the governments of Canada and Ontario, and Toronto’s new Mayor Olivia Chow, to act urgently to provide emergency and long-term shelter for refugee claimants in Toronto.

Le français suit l'anglais.

Toronto / June 8, 2023

OCASI has brought together a group of provincial organizations to launch a campaign designed to bridge the gap between help needed by the immigrant and refugee populations and help available.

TORONTO, May 17, 2022 - "Milk, eggs, cereal for tomorrow's breakfast, and chicken for dinner tonight because we ran out." Many family and friends, we imagine, would have had a similar conversation as they went through the checklist before their loved ones headed off on one of the most mundane and unremarkable of human rituals, the weekend run to the supermarket.

English version

Toronto, le 13 septembre 2021

Plus de 200 organismes et individus signent une lettre ouverte aux chefs des partis politiques fédéraux : permettez aux professionnels de la santé formés à l'étranger de servir les Canadiens

La version française

Toronto / 13 September 2021

Over 200 Sign Open Letter To Federal Party Leaders:
Let Internationally Educated Health Professionals Serve Canadians

Today over 50 civil society organizations and groups and over 200 individuals sent an open letter calling on federal party leaders to make an election commitment to address licensure  barriers faced by Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHPs).

Canada’s COVID-19 Reconstruction Plan Must Address Systemic Racial Inequalities

September 8, 2020 / Toronto - The COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious economic and social havoc. It has exposed and made worse the racial inequities that already existed in Canada. Colour of Poverty  – Colour of Change (COP-COC) calls on all political parties to address systemic and structural racial inequalities post-pandemic by releasing a Reconstruction and Reset Plan for Canada today. 

For Immediate Release

March 18, 2020/Toronto

COMMUNITY GROUPS CALL ON CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND EI BENEFITS AND CANADA CHILD BENEFITS TO ALL RESIDENTS OF CANADA

As organizations working with low income people of colour, immigrants, refugees and people with precarious status, we welcome the $82 Billion aid package announced by the Canadian Government to to help Canadians through COVID-19 crisis.