Organizations like OCASI generally offer direct services to immigrants. We provide information services on employment, housing and health. However, they are not generally able to work to defend the rights of individual immigrants. On the other hand, as a provincial umbrella organization, we raise these issues with the various levels of government.
There are also different responsibilities. Many responsibilities for employment are under provincial jurisdiction, whereas others are under federal jurisdiction, such as employment insurance legislation.
So when we talk about women living in situations of unemployment or unstable employment and who do not have access to employment insurance, there are measures that the federal government could implement in an attempt to improve the situation.