Ford government quietly reverses medical residency rule that excluded most immigrant physicians The rule required candidates to have at least two years of Ontario high school to be considered for first round of matching for residency placements.

www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

International Day for the Elimination of RACIAL Discrimination - March 21, 2026 In Canada: • 50% of all federally incarcerated women are Indigenous • Indigenous adults are incarcerated at 10x the rate of non-Indigenous adults • Black adults are incarcerated at 4x the rate of white adults Fully implement Indigenous Justice Strategy & Black Justice Strategy!

Corporate profits hit a new all time high of $676 bil in 2025, besting the previous 2022 record www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quo... @policyalternatives.ca

Federal Budget Falls Short on Canada’s Commitment to Immigrants and Refugees:
- End limits on settlement services
- Stop scapegoating immigrants and refugees -
- #Statusforall
Read our statement: oca.si/j5c48j

End Poverty! Let's start with:
- Healthcare for all
- Affordable housing for all
- Raise the rates

Our October newsletter is out! Register for our AGM (Oct 22 3:45-5:30pm), read the latest blog from Debbie Douglas - OCASI Executive Director, and catch up on sector updates, events, resources, and more!
mailchi.mp/ocasi/ocasi-...

National interest should include the rights of Indigenous women Bill C-5 is a major setback to reconciliation and the path to ending violence against Indigenous women and girls.

By @pampalmater.com
www.hilltimes.com/story/2025/0...

Remembering the revolt that started the end. @OCASI_Policy

Standing with minorities. @OCASI_Policy #endreligioushate

Title: 379 aid workers were killed in 2024. Subtitle: It is the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel. World Humanitarian Day, August 19, 2025 Image: A doctor with a stethoscope stands on the right-hand side

2024 was the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel. 2025 could be even worse. We must be committed to protecting humanitarian workers and the civilians they serve. #worldhumanitarianday #actforhumanity

Stop Bill C-2 Webinar - August 27th at 7PM ET (4PM PT/ 5PM CT/ 8PM AT)
Register to get the zoom link: tinyurl.com/stopC-2
#statusNow

Title: Youth Lead the Way Background image: silhouettes of young people jumping for joy Subtitle: Standing with today's immigrants and refugees for a brighter tomorrow; International Youth Day, August 12, 2025

Supporting today's youth for a stronger, better future!
@OCASI_Policy
#internationalyouthday #youthleadtheway #immigrantyouth #refugeeyouth

Title: Standing with Indigenous Peoples for a Better World Subtitle: International Day for the World's Indigenous People, August 9, 2025

Standing in solidarity with the world's Indigenous nations @OCASI_Policy #internationaldayfortheworldsindigenouspeople

Title: "Emancipation Day, August 1, 2025" An image of a fist raised in solidarity. Caption: "13 million people were enslaved and removed from Africa. 10.5 million made it to the Americas between 1500-1870. The rest were killed or chose death over slavery."

Remembering the tens of millions of African people enslaved and exploited under the transatlantic slave trade.
@OCASI_Policy #EmancipationDay

WAGE faces 80% budget cuts. This threatens decades of progress in women’s rights, 2SLGBTQI+ inclusion & gender justice. This affects us all.
OCASI joins organizations across Canada to speak out: ow.ly/vxwp50WxCsO

Title: Rising Together Image: An older Black woman in a powerful pose Subtitle: International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent

Standing in solidarity with women and girls of African descent!
@OCASI_Policy
#InternationalDayforWomenandGirlsofAfricanDescent

"Have we taken a a giant oppressive step backwards to a time when ‘minority rights’ were constantly attacked and rolled back or didn’t exist at all?" asks Debbie Douglas @ocasi_policy in her latest blog.
Read the July issue of OCASI In the Field: us2.campaign-archive.com?u=0806a3498f...

Muslim woman’s hijab ripped off in attack involving 10 people at Oshawa Pizza Pizza, anti-Islamophobia group says Police say the incident was captured on store surveillance video, and they are working with Hate Crime and Equity and Inclusion units to investigate if it was a hate motivated offence.

“Did it have to take almost a dozen people viciously beating my mother, ripping her hijab off, tearing out clumps of her hair, stomping on her neck, her back, for us to say that this environment has become unsafe for us?”
www.thestar.com/news/gta/mus...

Solidarité avec les réfugiés : Mettons fin à l’Entente sur les tiers pays sûrs
ocasi.org/solidarity-r...

A call to action on World Refugee Day!
Solidarity with Refugees: End the Safe Third Country Agreement
ocasi.org/solidarity-r...
#WelcomeRefugees #EndTheSTCA #WorldRefugeeDay

Happy Pride from OCASI!

Read this powerful statement released by @schliferclinic:
"We call on the government to act now—by withdrawing Bill C-2 and ending the Safe Third Country Agreement—before putting more lives at further risk."
www.schliferclinic.com/wp-content/u...

Happy #pridemonth2025 from OCASI!

Canada introduces proposed citizenship by descent legislation The federal government has tabled a new bill that would allow Canadians born abroad to pass citizenship by descent to children born overseas via a test to prove family ties

“It reflects our belief that being Canadian means more than just a place of birth; it’s about belonging, shared experiences, and a commitment to the inclusive and diverse community we all call home” @LenaMetlegeDiab
www.thestar.com/politics/fed...

@ICLMG - we agree! The federal government must withdraw Bill C-2, and withdraw from the Safe Third Country Agreement #STCA
Read oca.si/zhdcin our joint statement with Colour of Poverty - Colour of Change, SALCO, CASSA, CCNC-SJ, CSALC

Joint Statement: Canada puts refugee claimants at risk
Bill C-2 is an attack on refugee rights. Canada must withdraw from the #STCA
oca.si/zhdcin
#refugeeswelcome
#statusforall

Join Debbie Douglas
@OCASI_Policy at Toronto Newcomer Day - May 28 - Nathan Phillips Square. Live music, cultural performances, food, games, giveaways, and a warm welcome from your city. Whether you've been here 5 days or 50 days — all are invited!
#TorontoNewcomerDay
www.toronto.ca/Newcomerday

Is Canadian citizenship mostly a convenience? A new study counters the myth A Statistics Canada report measures immigrants’ attachment to their new country 10 years after arrival.

The findings debunk the myth that immigrants are “Canadians of convenience,” who take advantage of citizenship for the privilege of a Canadian passport but have no intention to stay and keep ties with their adopted homeland.
www.thestar.com/news/canada/...

Our May issue of OCASI In the Field is out! Read the latest blog from Debbie Douglas @ocasi_policy on twitter/X
- thoughts on saying goodbye to a beloved long-standing OCASI colleague, and reflections on the recent federal election:
mailchi.mp/ocasi/ocasi-...

Punishing encampment residents instead of providing the housing people need costs more than anyone wants to pay — ethically, morally, and fiscally. In Ontario, we can’t afford to import this cruel American approach.

SPT co-signs this letter.

docs.google.com/document/d/1...