OCASI

En cette Journée des Franco-Ontariennes et des Franco-Ontariens, OCASI salue le travail des membres d’OCASI qui accompagnent au quotidien les immigrés et réfugiés francophones dans leur installation en Ontario, pour les aider à y construire leur vie et à prendre toute leur place dans la société ontarienne.

Bonne Journée des Franco-Ontariennes et des Franco-Ontariens! 💚🤍

It was great to be in Ajax today for OCASI’s Central East Regional Meeting — and especially to meet in person with members from across the region after seven years of regional meetings held virtually.

A big thank you to Community Development Council Durham, whose premises were buzzing with activity, for such a warm welcome.

We talked about many of the critical issues facing Ontario’s immigrant and refugee-serving sector, including funding uncertainty, changes to how services are delivered, and the connections between health, housing and successful settlement.

One discussion showed how closely connected these issues are. Members spoke about refugees who need supplemental health supports such as prosthetics but may struggle to afford the new co-payment. Without the medical support someone needs, it can be harder to work — and without work, the risk of housing insecurity can grow.

Housing was another important part of the conversation. Members stressed that stable, affordable housing isn't separate from successful settlement and integration — it is fundamental to enabling people to work, build their lives and contribute to their communities.

These conversations are an important reminder of why investment in immigrant and refugee services matters: giving people the support they need to build their lives in Ontario also enables them to contribute their skills, experience and talents to their communities, Ontario and Canada.

Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared their experience and expertise.

À l’approche du Jour des Franco-Ontariens et des Franco-Ontariennes, ce vendredi, rappelons qu’attirer davantage d’immigrants francophones en Ontario ne suffit pas. Il faut aussi leur permettre de s’établir, de travailler dans leur domaine et d’accéder aux services dont ils ont besoin en français.

En 2025, 11,4 % des nouveaux résidents permanents en Ontario étaient francophones. Or, nos membres francophones nous disent que les services en français ne suivent pas cette croissance. À financement stagnant, leur capacité ne suit pas l’augmentation des besoins.

Nos membres nous disent aussi que, faute de services essentiels en français, certains immigrants francophones finissent par quitter l’Ontario. C’est une perte pour les communautés francophones et pour l’économie de la province.

La ministre des Affaires francophones, Natalia Kusendova-Bashta , l’a elle-même souligné la semaine dernière : attirer les immigrants francophones ne suffit pas s’ils ne peuvent pas travailler dans leur domaine et mettre leurs compétences au service de l’Ontario.
On ne peut pas fixer des objectifs ambitieux en matière d’immigration francophone tout en laissant s’éroder la capacité des organismes et des services qui permettent à ces personnes de s’établir et de rester en Ontario. Sans les investissements nécessaires, ces objectifs seront plus difficiles à atteindre — et l’Ontario continuera de perdre des talents dont il a besoin.

Les politiques d’immigration et les décisions de financement doivent être cohérentes. Investir dans les services en français, c’est investir dans l’ancrage des immigrants francophones, dans la vitalité des communautés et dans l’économie ontarienne.



Ontario At Work Lena Metlege Diab FordNation Mark Carney Canadian Immigration and Citizenship Centre Francophone du Grand Toronto Sofifran Debbie Douglas Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton Niagara Centre des services communautaires Vanier / Vanier Community Service Centre

OCASI stands with Migrant Rights Network and communities across Canada taking action for migrant justice this weekend, September 19–20.

Learn more and find an action near you below. 👇

THIS WEEKEND: TAKE ACTION FOR MIGRANT JUSTICE ✊

Housing is unaffordable. Good jobs are hard to find. The cost of living keeps rising.

Migrants did not create these crises. Migrants are struggling through them too.

But instead of taking on the rich and powerful, politicians are blaming migrants, cutting immigration and changing the rules on people who were invited to build their lives here.

On September 19 & 20, people across the country are taking action to demand:

✊ Renew work permits
✊ End exploitation
✊ Stop deportations
✊ Permanent resident status for all

Migrants care for our families, grow our food, build our communities and keep Canada running. Migrants make Canada work. Canada must work for migrants too.

Find an action near you: MigrantRights.ca/Sep20

Bring your friends, coworkers, neighbours and family.

Investment in immigrant and refugee settlement and integration is an investment in Ontario. 🤝

Today’s OCASI South Regional Meeting in Hamilton showed what that looks like in practice.

Our host, Wesley, has served communities for 71 years, with programs spanning immigrant and refugee services, employment, housing and homelessness, childcare, children and youth, and food services.

And across the South Region, that work is strengthened by collaboration.

Around the table today, members spoke about the strong relationships among organizations in Hamilton, Niagara, Waterloo Region and surrounding communities — including the positive experience of the Community of Practice in Hamilton and Brantford.

Members emphasized that funding and service models should strengthen this collaboration, not create barriers to it. They also highlighted the essential role of the Province of Ontario in settlement and integration and the importance of ensuring that investment in French-language services keeps pace with Ontario’s commitment to Francophone immigration.

Thank you to Wesley for hosting us, and to all our South Region members for sharing their experience, ideas and commitment to the communities they serve.

Toronto brought the energy today ⚡

At OCASI’s Toronto Regional Meeting, members filled the gym at with frank, solutions-focused discussion and clear messages for our forthcoming meetings with IRCC and Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

A central theme was that strong economic outcomes depend on strong social outcomes. When systems underestimate the support immigrants and refugees need, or when legal assistance, French-language services and other essential supports are unavailable, people cannot contribute to their full potential.

Employers lose out too. Members described businesses at risk of losing workers they have spent as long as two years training because those employees cannot renew the permits that allow them to work in Canada. At a time of economic tension with the United States, Canada cannot afford to waste that investment or lose people who are already skilled, employed and contributing.

Participants also highlighted the distinct realities facing Francophone organizations, the uncertainty created by Bill C-12 and the effects of expiring work and study permits on individuals, families and employers.

Thank you to our hosts and to all the participating member organizations whose experience and ideas will help shape OCASI’s advocacy.

“How do we navigate this period of austerity while needs remain and, in many cases, are increasing?” asks Debbie Douglas, C.M in her September blog. She examines the devastating impact of IRCC funding cuts on immigrant and refugee-serving agencies, which are struggling both to meet client needs and to defend staff jobs in the sector.

Don't miss the September OITF newsletter—featuring Debbie's blog, updates from OCASI and across the sector, upcoming events, cutting-edge reports, and funding opportunities. https://oca.si/h3j47e

We are joining 250+ labour, civil liberties, faith, climate, migrant, refugee, human rights and community organizations across Canada to stand with international students from Portage College and defend migrants’ right to protest without fear.

The students were already protesting an injustice. They enrolled in programs that were eligible for post-graduation work permits. Newly uncovered government emails show that enrolled students had been told they would continue to receive them.

Then they were denied permits.

So they organized. In mid-July, they set up a round-the-clock protest.

On August 12, Calgary Police called the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to their protest. CBSA checked protesters’ immigration status. Ten people were issued removal orders that same day.

The students spoke out because they had been treated unfairly. They should have received justice. Instead, they faced immigration enforcement.

What happened in Calgary affects us all. Our movements include migrants.

Migrant workers must be able to walk a picket line. International students must be able to protest government policy. Refugees and undocumented people must be able to speak out and organize.

We are committing to stand with migrants when they speak out.

Along with 250+ organizations, we are making four demands:
An independent investigation into the actions of Calgary Police and CBSA on August 12.
Immediate suspension of the removal orders.
Clear public policies so that peaceful protest never leads to immigration enforcement, whatever a person’s status.
A resolution for the Portage College students under the rules that applied when they enrolled.

Join us.
Individuals: sign the petition.
Organizations: add your name to the open letter.
Migrants: read and share the Know Your Rights guide.
Everyone: support the students’ legal fight.

The petition, open letter, and guide: MigrantRights.ca/RighttoProtest
Legal fund: tinyurl.com/PortageLegalFund

On September 20, join migrants and allies taking action across Canada — or organize an action in your community: MigrantRights.ca/Sep20

"In Gratitude and Solidarity" - read the latest blog from Debbie Douglas, OCASI ED, in the July edition of our newsletter, OCASI In The Field.

Also read updates from OCASI, sector news, funding opportunities, reports and events.

OCASI In the Field #168 - July 2026 envoke.com email marketing message archive

We are proud to celebrate our Executive Director, Debbie Douglas, on her investiture into the Order of Canada—one of our country’s highest honours—which took place on June 25, 2026, at Rideau Hall.

This recognition is a testament to Debbie’s extraordinary leadership and unwavering commitment to immigrant and refugee-serving communities across Canada. Her dedication continues to inspire us all.

Watch the ceremony on CPAC here:
https://shorturl.at/mO8Hc