Our 2019 Annual Report is ready
Our Annual Report is ready. You are welcome to read and download the document, and find out all the programs implemented during 2019 thanks to all our supporters.
Webinar on the Humanitarian and Compassionate application
The first week of August we are facilitating an informative session on the Humanitarian and Compassionate application in English and Spanish.
For registrations:
Wednesday August 5th at 10:30 am :
Para inscribirte en la sesion en espanol presiona el enlace y llena el formulario con tu nombre
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4134104755261269263
Thursday August 6th at 10:30 am:
To register follow the link:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6523128018139393807
Solidarity Steps for the FCJ Refugee Centre
We’re excited to announce that we’re beginning an exciting new fundraising campaign! Solidarity Steps for the FCJ Refugee Centre!
Take from us what you need, and give to each other what you can.
This is the guiding philosophy of not only the FCJ Refugee Centre, but is at the very core of our common humanity.
In recent months, we have seen an enormous shift in the ways in which we interact, live our daily lives, and see the world around us.
We have seen the turmoil that can be brought out in people when they are forced into situations of fear and vulnerability – circumstances so many of us who grew up in Canada with so many privileges have never had to face.
But we’ve also seen the generosity of the spirit of our community.
Our mandate is to support all uprooted people, and to keep our door open to the community. From our homes to yours, we stand with you in solidarity. Our door is open today as it will be tomorrow.
Please check out our page, and stay tuned for more updates, weekly calls to action, how you can stay engaged, and more information about our upcoming walk-a-thon!
Stay safe, stay well, and stay kind.
In solidarity,
The FCJ Refugee Centre Community
Refugee Hearing Preparation / Preparandote para tu Audiencia de Refugio
You are invited to participate in our upcoming webinar on how to get ready for your refugee hearing . The webinar will be provided in 2 languages:Spanish and English
Te invitamos a participar en la sesion informativa virtual (webinar) sobre como estar preparad@ para tu audiencia de refugio. La sesion sera facilitada en Ingles y Espanol
Miercoles Julio 22 Sesion en Espanol
Para registrarte sigue el enlace siguiente: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4203938037125854989
Thursday July 23: Webinar in English
For registration follow the link:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7146822690310036237
Virtual English Class on Monday July 20
FCJ Refugee Centre is starting the Virtual English Classes in Summer.
If you are interested in participate you only need a computer, tablet or phone with a webcam, access to internet and a quiet space.
VIRTUAL ENGLISH CLASS REGISTRATION LINK
Below you can find the Registration link for the first English Class
Monday 2:00 pm (class is full, no more registrations available)
Monday 3:30pm : https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/381666183158347020
ESPANOL
El Centro de refugio inicia en Julio las clases de ingles online. SI estas interesad@ te invitamos a registrarte en la clase de las 3:30 pm
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7721291127628681488
PORTUGUESE
O Centro para Refugiados FCJ vai iniciar aulas virtuais de inglês na próxima semana. Caso tenha interesse de participar só é necessário ter acesso à um computador, celular ou tablet com camera, acesso à internet e um espaço silencioso.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/7721291127628681488
The impact of the COVID 19 in the refugee process update: resumption of refugee hearings, refugee claim inland changes. Webinar provided in 4 languages
Learn how the Immigration and Refugee Board is gradually re-opening its doors. During the presentation we will talk about the RPD resumption of in-person hearings, the option of a file reviews, pilot of video-conference hearings, new refugee inland claim procedures, etc.
The session is for refugee claimants who are waiting for their refugee hearing. Front line workers are also welcome to join the sessions.
FCJ Refugee Centre is offering special info sessions talking about the IRB announces in 4 different languages as follow:
Date |
Time |
Language |
LINK |
| July 15th | 10:30 am | English | https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9045915666323481357
|
| July 15th | 2:00 pm | Spanish | https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6624409531425971213
|
| July 16th | 10:30 am | Arabic | https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2687991877578287631
|
| July 16th | 2:00 pm | Portuguese | https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1166492085261977101
|
COVID-19 Hitting Canadian Farms: “There had to be one dead for the authorities to react”
Isabel Inclan, New Canadian Media
The spread of COVID-19 in several farms across the country and the death of three Mexican farmworkers in Southwestern Ontario has exposed the overcrowding in which they live on some farms, the lack of official inspection to guarantee distance and protection during the pandemic, and even suspicions of labour exploitation.
Many workers in places surrounded by the risk to get coronavirus are reluctant to be tested for COVID-19. Why? Their temporary immigration status makes them feel afraid to be returned to Mexico if they are positive, as reported by migrant workers´ advocates. […]
Health Care for Uninsured Migrants during the COVID-19
The webinar is focused on the services we are providing on our Primary Care Clinic and other health care services throughout Toronto for non-status populations. During the session, we will talk about how the clinics are working during COVID, and what is going to happen in the following months.
Toronto is a Sanctuary City, meaning no one can ask information regarding immigration status when accessing city services. Also, in an emergency, you cannot be refused service at the hospital, even without a health card. The conversation will include what to do during those emergencies.
Take advantage of this informative session and feel free to ask any questions related to the services we are providing.
For registration follow the link:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6280739579842438670
Importance of Migrant Workers, challenges and options during COVID-19 WEBINAR ON JULY 8
Durante la conversación del miercoles haremos una revisión de la condición laboral de trabajadores temporales extranjeros, las dificultades que están enfrentando debido al COVID- 19 y las opciones de ayuda.
Hablaremos de los programas actualmente disponibles para trabajadores migrantes y alternativas cuando no son elegibles. El FCJ Refugee Centre sigue brindando servicios a los trabajadores migrantes, haciendo referencias, representando casos ante inmigración y otras autoridades.
Nuestro programa busca crear conciencia sobre la problemática de la trata de personas, en particular sobre casos internacionales y explotación laboral. Nuestro equipo de trabajo tiene capacidad de apoyar en diferentes idiomas (español, portugués, y francés entre otros); Si usted esta experimentando cualquier tipo de explotación, contáctenos en nuestra oficina 416-469-9754 o en nuestro teléfono WhatsApp 647-9712153. Los trabajadores migrantes siguen llegando a Canadá. Debidoa la pandemia la situación para los migrantes sin estatus es más difícil: el aislamiento, la explotación y los abusos aumentaron en el último periodo
Registration to the Virtual Info Session/ Webinar:
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4156764589938815502
Ottawa ‘remotely’ inspected Ontario farms while COVID-19 infected hundreds of migrant workers
The federal government has conducted mostly remote inspections of Ontario farms that employ migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of physically entering the properties to make sure the labourers’ living conditions are safe.
Employment and Social Development Canada, the department responsible for the inspections, told CBC News that over the last four months, all the farms it inspected during the initial 14-day mandatory quarantine period complied with the rules as of June 12. […]
How Canada failed migrant farm workers
Kathryn Blaze Baum and Tavia Grant, The Globe and Mail
When the novel coronavirus pandemic hit in March, the annual flow of farm labour into Canada hung in the balance.
Farmers feared that border closings and grounded planes would prevent agricultural workers, coming from countries such as Mexico, Guatemala and Jamaica, from reaching their fields and greenhouses in time for the seeding season. Knowing this, Ottawa allowed entry of temporary foreign workers critical to the food system.
Conditions – including a mandatory 14-day quarantine upon arrival – were put in place to protect Canadians. But advocates and health officials say not enough was done to protect the workers themselves. […]
Updates on the Refugee Process during COVID-19
You are invited to join our FCJ Webinar on Thursday July 16, 2020.
During the Virtual Info Session Francisco Rico, the co-director of the FCJ Refugee Centre will provide an overview of the impact of the COVID-19 in the immigration procedures. The presentation will include the refugee process updates announced last week. The conversation will include key elements that you have to take into consideration and be better prepare for your refugee hearing.
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2687991877578287631
Guia Como Registrarse en las Sesiones Informativas Virtuales (FCJ webinar)
Actividades virtuales de la Red de Jóvenes del FCJ
Actividades organizadas en línea por la Red de Jóvenes del FCJ durante la pandemia de COVID-19:
Reuniones virtuales los miércoles
La Red de Jóvenes del FCJ mantiene las reuniones de los miércoles, pero ahora de manera virtual, en línea.
Noche de cine los jueves
Cenas virtuales en familia
La Red de Jóvenes del FCJ está celebranbo cenas virtuales en familia el último miércoles de cada mes.
¡Estás invitad@ a unirte al grupo!
FCJ Youth Network Virtual Activities
Activities online implemented by the FCJ Youth Network during the COVID-19:
Online Wednesdays Meetings
The FCJ Youth Network keeps the Wednesdays meetings but now they are virtual meetings.
Movie Nights on Thursdays
Virtual Family Dinners
FCJ Youth Network is doing Virtual Family Dinners last Wednesday of every month.
You are invited to join the group!
Migrant advocates call on feds to expand EI, CPP to foreign workers
Migrant worker advocates say the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the need for the federal government to create a new mechanism for foreign workers to access critical benefits like employment insurance (EI).
Debbie Douglas, executive director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants, told the House human resources committee on Monday that the government must find a way to ensure that temporary foreign workers (TFWs) can access the benefits they’re already paying into, such as the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) and EI benefits. […]
Migrant Workers Advocates Call for Government Action Against Human Trafficking
Isabel Inclan, New Canadian Media
Migrant workers’ advocates are calling on the federal government to adopt a holistic approach to address human trafficking that encompasses prevention, social protections, accountability, and labour mobility.
Migrant groups said existing government programs and policies fail to protect some migrant workers who are most susceptible to labour trafficking. […]
Spring Newsletter Special Issue: Pandemic Response
On the World Refugee Day we prepared a special Newsletter to say thank you for your support! Every Action Counts!
Borderless Humanity
At FCJ Refugee Centre we continue working in solidarity with precarious migrants. We understand that this is a difficult and uncertain time for many. We recognize that precarious migrants are severely affected already as racialized and marginalized persons. With the health and safety of our entire community in mind we did some adjustments to our daily work environment.
Thank you for join us at our virtual Open House. We wanted to show you how we have kept the door open for precarious migrants.
We continue to remotely offer as many services as possible by phone, e-mail, or any other electronic means available to us. Due to the donations and help received we have been able to continue offering our services and supporting individuals and families who do not have access to emergency benefits.
During the Open House we launched our video “Borderless Humanity” to say thank you for your support through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Transparency is how we say thank you.
Full Immigration Status for All: Digital Rally on June 14
Call from the FCJ Anti-Human Trafficking Migrant Workers Mobile Program – Migrant Rights Network:
5 migrant farmworkers have been hospitalized with COVID-19. Hundreds of others are sick from Windsor, ON, to Kelowna, BC, to Brooks, AB. Migrant care workers remain trapped by employers who refuse to let them leave even to send remittances to families in need.
Today is the third rent day for many hundreds of thousands of families who haven’t had income since March. Across the country, we are fundraising to distribute cash and food, but it’s just not enough. Federal income support remains out of reach, particularly for undocumented people. Even in a pandemic, healthcare is not available in most provinces for uninsured migrants.
COVID-19 has worsened what has been a grave injustice for decades: the inequalities that migrants face are rooted in an immigration system that keeps us temporary and undocumented. This can not continue. On June 14th, we will launch our campaign for full immigration status for nearly 2 million people in the country without permanent resident status. We insist on landed immigration status for all low-waged migrants that arrive in the future.
Join a massive digital and social media gathering of migrants, poor and working class people, and allies. Together, migrants from across Canada will raise our voice for healthcare, decent work, family unity and equal rights for all.
We need you. We need you to join, we need you to mobilize, we need you to organize: RSVP for June 14th!
For the last month, in addition to immediate crisis response, we have been bringing together migrant and undocumented people and allies in almost every province. Thousands of migrants have participated in meetings to talk about the challenges we are facing, and the solutions we need. Today, we launch our plan.
On June 14th, join 46 migrant-led organizations and supporters as we launch our joint call for full immigration status for all. We are essential. We are exploited. We are excluded. We are enraged. We are engaged. We are mobilizing.
In this moment of crisis, we have seen at every turn that the fundamental injustice is lack of full immigration status. It is the absence of valid Social Insurance Numbers that has shut people out of income support. It is tied work permits that have made it impossible for many to leave unsafe work. It is exorbitant tuition fees tied to study permits that push migrant students into bad jobs and despair. It is the fear of detention and deportation that force migrant and undocumented people away from accessing basic needs.
Full immigration status for all is an absolute necessity. Join us now, join us on June 14, help us build the broadest possible movement in defence of all. Start by RSVPing here.
85 migrant workers test positive in latest Ontario farm outbreak
A farm operation in Norfolk County, south of Simcoe, is the latest agricultural facility in Ontario to declare a COVID-19 outbreak after 85 migrant workers tested positive for the virus.
The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit said Sunday that five workers have been hospitalized and approximately 25 others who tested positive are showing symptoms of the virus.
The migrant workers are employed by Scotlynn Group in Vittoria, a major producer of sweet corn, watermelon, asparagus and pumpkins. Many workers are from Mexico and an official from the Mexican consulate is being made available to speak to those infected. […]