As part of the FCJ Refugee Centre’s Migrant Workers Mobile Program, two members of our Anti-Human Trafficking team (Manager Jovana Blagovcanin, and Migrant Case Coordinator Diana Caipa) traveled to Simcoe, Ontario, on Thursday, August 29, to participate in the Farmworkers’ Appreciation Day, organized by The Huron Farmworker Ministry.
Around 200 migrant workers participated in the activity, which included games, prizes, and a BBQ. They also visited stands from different organizations that offered free support.
FCJ Refugee Centre was present with a stand, where we had the opportunity to share information about rights, laws, policies, and available community support, and offer our support in cases of abuse and exploitation at work.
This visit not only allowed migrant workers to have a great time in a different setting, but it also gave us the chance to work on our mission of preventing labor exploitation among migrant workers by equipping them with information and resources.
Want to know what we’ve been up to these past few months, and the upcoming events you can’t miss? Our Summer 2024 Newsletter is ready!
In this edition you’ll find everything you need to know about Ride for Refuge, our biggest fundraising event of the year, which is just around the corner.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the immigration department of the federal government, has announced that it has ended the “temporary” public policy that allowed visitors to apply for work permits from within Canada.
IRCC introduced the policy in August 2020 to help visitors who were unable to leave the country due to COVID-19 pandemic–related travel restrictions.
Under the policy, visitors in Canada could apply for a work permit without having to leave the country. In addition, foreign nationals who had held a work permit in the previous 12 months but who changed their status in Canada to “visitor” could apply to work legally in Canada while waiting for a decision on their new work permit application.
While the temporary policy was set to expire on February 28, 2025, IRCC said that it’s ending the policy now “as part of our overall efforts to recalibrate the number of temporary residents in Canada and preserve the integrity of the immigration system.”
IRCC also said that it will continue to process applications submitted before August 28, 2024 under the policy.
August 24th is now officially Undocumented Residents Day in Toronto. It was proclaimed today at City Hall by Toronto Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik, in a moving event hosted in partnership with FCJ Refugee Centre and the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI).
The event included remarks from the City of Toronto, the powerful testimony of an undocumented person and allies, and a panel discussion featuring Executive Director of OCASI, Debbie Douglas; Founder of FCJ Refugee Centre, Loly Rico; Executive Director at Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, Syed Hussan; and City of Toronto Social Development, Finance & Administration Executive Director, Denise Andrea Campbell.
The panelists talked about the hard realities and important contributions of undocumented residents, about the need for a broad and inclusive Regularization Program, and about the rise of anti-immigrant sentiment.
Among other things, the participants highlighted the contradictions of a system that considers many of the jobs that immigrants do as essential, while treating the migrants who do those jobs as disposable.
The proclamation of Undocumented Residents Day is an important step on the long road that still needs to be traveled towards a more inclusive, welcoming and fair Toronto.
On the third anniversary of the passing of our beloved Co-Director Francisco Rico-Martínez, we gathered to remember him and his extraordinary legacy, and we officially inaugurated the FCJ Refugee Centre’s new room, called, in his honour, “Francisco’s Dream Room.”
In Francisco’s own words, “I am just a dreamer that, since that time of arrival, keep looking for soulmates to make it possible.”
Our annual street party is always full of fun, amazing talent, delicious food and, especially, a great sense of community. It’s the perfect occasion to celebrate our diversity, and this year was no exception. Thank you to the staff, volunteers, neighbours, friends, and everyone who made it possible. Enjoy the best moments in this video!
‘Migrant Spring’ March in Toronto, on March 2024. Picture by FCJ Refugee Centre
By Debbie Douglas, Amy Go, Samina Sami, Samya Hasan*
Originally published in The Hill Times on July 3, 2024
As leaders of immigrant and diaspora organizations across Canada, we want to address recent statements from Immigration Minister Marc Miller about the supposed lack of consensus on the regularization of undocumented people. This hesitancy ignores the moral and economic imperatives at stake. Canada has a responsibility to offer protection and stability to those who have long contributed to our society from the shadows. Contrary to concerns expressed by some about “queue jumping,” many Canadians—especially within immigrant communities—support regularization. Here’s why.
A matter of justice and solidarity
Many immigrants—like other Canadian citizens—personally know non-status people. Undocumented people are our friends, partners, neighbours, family, and coworkers. They care for our children, build our homes, and deliver our food. Their lack of status makes them vulnerable to exploitation, from unfair wages to denial of health care.
Many have fled war, persecution, or severe economic hardship, only to face a precarious existence due to barriers to legal status. Immigrant communities overwhelmingly support regularization because we understand these hardships, and empathize with those trapped by the unforgiving web of the immigration system.
Understanding the path to becoming undocumented
It’s crucial to dispel the myth that undocumented immigrants are “queue jumpers.” Becoming undocumented is not a choice but often a consequence of an opaque and unfair immigration system. Many arrived legally as refugees or migrant workers, but faced insurmountable obstacles in renewing their status or obtaining permanent residency.
Immigrants know—through personal experience or those of our parents and grandparents—that access to permanent residency is fraught with high fees, long waits, and complex requirements that many cannot meet. Thousands fall through the cracks not because they are trying to subvert the system, but because the system fails to provide fair options. When immigrants see undocumented people, they know it could be them. Regularization is not about rewarding lawbreakers; it’s about rectifying systemic failings that leave many vulnerable and uncertain.
Regularization: a pathway, not a shortcut
The idea that regularizing undocumented people amounts to “jumping the queue” is a misconception. Regularization does not mean granting immediate permanent residency without scrutiny. It means allowing individuals to apply for permanent resident status, subject to the same assessments as any other applicant. This would place them in the queue where they belong, acknowledging their long-term contributions and connections to Canada.
Regularization programs can ensure fairness and integrity, offering a transparent process where individuals must meet specific criteria, such as proving residence in Canada. This is not about creating shortcuts but about integrating those already part of our communities into the legal framework, enabling them to contribute more fully to society.
Economic and social benefits
Regularizing undocumented immigrants is not just a humanitarian gesture; it’s an economic boon. These individuals are already contributing significantly to our economy, often in sectors facing severe shortages. By bringing them out of the shadows, we can enhance their wages, productivity, purchasing power, and tax contributions. According to research done on France applied to Canada, regularization would grow the economy by more than $28-billion, and as Miller said, that’s more than the economic growth from multiple oil and gas pipelines. This growth will fund public infrastructure and services, which will result in improving the working and living conditions of all Canadians including recent immigrants.
Regularization promotes social cohesion and stability, and reduces exploitative labour practices. When people live without fear of deportation, they are more likely to invest in their communities, seek education for their children, and pursue opportunities. This leads to stronger, more integrated communities where everyone has a stake in our collective success. Undocumented people already live here, regularization is about including them in the family of rights.
The time is now
Canada has welcomed diverse communities of newcomers over the years. This has strengthened us. We cannot let fears and misconceptions dictate policies that leave hundreds of thousands in a perpetual state of limbo and fear. The decision to regularize undocumented immigrants aligns with our values of fairness, compassion, and inclusivity. The time for change is now. Immigrants are ready to support this initiative.
The Uprooted Jr. series is hosting weekly art and reading Summer classes with volunteers and members of the FCJ Refugee Centre Youth Network as teachers.
The classes are free and open to all newcomer children ages 6 to 12. They will learn new skills creating art and reading together, while developing their interpersonal confidence.
The ‘Art For Everyone, Status For All’ Art Show & Benefit was a big success! Thank you so much to John Gross, Susan Chernin, the York Heritage Quilters Guild, the Marvellous Madison Makers, the Quaker Committee for Refugees, and all the FCJ Refugee Centre staff and volunteers who made possible this amazing two-day fundraising event for refugees!
We acknowledge the [financial] support of the Government of Canada. Nous reconnaissons l’appui [financier] du gouvernement du Canada.
The research was made possible thanks to the support of the Maytree Foundation, whose president, Elizabeth McIsaac, referred to the importance of this kind of advocacy initiative among the community, championing equity in education.
The launching of the research was attended by representatives of the Toronto Catholic District Board and Toronto District School Board among other academic participants who learned firsthand about the experience of newcomer families in enrolling their children in school.
The research was illustrated with a presentation of members of the FCJ Youth Network, who performed a play reflecting the challenges faced by newcomer families during the school enrollment process. The play included interactive scenes depicting the experiences of a refugee claimant family and a non-status family.
The report is a follow up on a previous one produced on 2016, which assessed the secondary school system in Ontario on 5 salient areas: Getting In, Equitable Participation, Anti-Discrimination, Support, and Moving On. Due the regressions observed in recent times, the Youth Network constructed a more extensive version addressing the levels of Elementary, Secondary (High school, EdVance, Adult School), and Post-Secondary education access for newcomer youth and families.
Stefan Enrique Joseph Kallikaden, FCJ Refugee Centre’s Youth and Access to Education Coordinator, and Natalia Mercado Salazar, Youth and Access to Education Worker, were leading the research. They presented a summary of the findings and highlights from the report.
The conclusion of the report discussed the need to increase financial support for newcomer families through scholarships and grants, provide cultural competency training for staff, and implement safe schools and equity policies to reduce dropout rates and improve graduation rates. It also recommended enhancing campus inclusivity with dedicated support centers, expanded counseling services, and holistic support programs, combating discrimination and bullying with enforced agreements, language support, and cultural sensitivity training, and supporting families with multilingual materials and bilingual staff. Comprehensive orientation programs and targeted academic and career counseling for students were also highlighted.
The presentation was followed by a short film titled Errance (Wandering), directed by Karla Meza. She is a documentary filmmaker and independent journalist who reports on issues related to forced migration and challenges faced by marginalized communities.
The film, produced by the Institut National de l’Image et du Son (L’inis), features Jorge Blas Jr. and Melissa Blas from the Blas family. The director introduced the film, which included comments from the Blas siblings. The movie tells the story of a young Mexican refugee in Montreal who has been forced to put his academic career and dream of becoming a police officer on hold due to his immigration status. Socially isolated, he clings to the daily life he shares with his family and tries, as best he can, to occupy his time while waiting for his documents that will change his future.
Panel Discussion
The conversation was enriched by the participation of Loly Rico, the founder of FCJ Refugee Centre, who talked about the experience of FCJ Refugee Centre supporting children and youth and how the Access to Education program started in 2015, offering two pathways for entry into University – a bridging course program, and a direct entry program to York University that now had been expanded to Toronto Metropolitan University since Fall 2023.
Natalia Mercado Salazar also participated in the panel, together with Diana Abril Sánchez Martínez, part of the Youth Network, who shared their personal experiences. Additionally, the Blas siblings, Jorge and Melissa, along with advocate Karla Meza, participated via Zoom from Quebec.
The discussion focused on several key questions, addressing the primary challenges newcomer families encounter regarding language barriers and cultural differences, the importance of building community to foster a sense of belonging, support for their children’s academic and emotional well-being, sharing success stories, and best practices.
Natalia mentioned that families don’t know where to find information, and even when information is found, it is not always reliable. The Blas family described how coming from Mexico, with a totally different educational system and environment, to Quebec City, where they had to learn both French and English to communicate, was very challenging. Loly Rico spoke about how Ontario is one of the best provinces when it comes to the Education Act but also noted that it depends on where you live.
Diana Sánchez shared an experience where, during a class, students were asked if they had a Social Security Number or knew how to get one. She raised her hand saying she didn’t have one, and the teacher said they should all go and get one. When she told her family, they made her skip school for three days because they didn’t understand what it was about.
Addressing the question about success stories or best practices from schools or communities that have demonstrated effective strategies for supporting the diverse needs and aspirations of newcomer families in Canada, Natalia mentioned the challenges as a support worker when trying to contact schools to support families. Schools often do not respond, leading to miscommunication, especially since the families do not speak English.
Loly Rico spoke about some of the positive aspects, such as the bridging programs with York University, Toronto Metropolitan University, and Queen’s University. These bridging programs have been helping a lot of youth and have also been providing access to the schools where they can advocate more and hope to extend this advocacy to different provinces.
Overall, the event was a comprehensive exploration of the challenges faced by newcomer children and youth in accessing education and highlighted the critical role of community support and systemic change in addressing these challenges.
The presentation of the community research engaged participants in a meaningful dialogue on access to education creating expectations for an improvement of the education system that might be shown during the second phase of the project taking place in 2025 when the school year finishes.
This new report is divided into two phases:
Phase 1: 2024 School Year End [Assessing Elementary, Secondary & Post-Secondary System with List of Areas Of Improvement]
Phase 2: 2025 School Year End [Updates on Implementation of Suggestions]
The report ‘A Rocky Path: Understanding Access to Education Challenges for Newcomer Children & Youth,’ presented on June 14, 2024, include the findings, conclusions and recommendations of Phase 1.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the immigration department of the federal government, has announced that 
