Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic

08/13/2021

Toronto Rent Bank is offering grants up to $4,000 for low-income individuals for rent arrears.

Please call (416)397-7368 for further information.

02/11/2021

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the various challenges facing people with precarious immigration status in Canada. What is less commonly known, however, is that many of these individuals who are helping to keep the Canadian economy going, are being denied one of the basic yet fundamental benefits that our Government provides to families in need, namely the Canada Child Benefits (CCB).

Under the Income Tax Act, you must be a citizen, permanent resident, convention refugee, or a “temporary resident” who has stayed in Canada for at least 18 months to receive CCB. Excluded from the benefits are refugee claimants and others with precarious immigration status, many of whom are working and paying tax in Canada. Even if their children are born in Canada, they are still being denied CCB because of the parent’s immigration status. It is unfair, and unconstitutional, to give CCB to visitors who may not have deep ties with Canada, while denying the benefits to refugee claimants and others in need.

The Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic (CSALC) has launched a Constitutional Challenge to this unjust law. In addition, CSALC has joined hands with Campaign 2000, the Colour of Poverty Colour of Change, OCASI, and South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, to call on the Canadian Government to immediately repeal the discriminatory provision under the Income Tax Act excluding access to CCB based on immigration status. We ask you for your support by writing/emailing to your local MP and to:

The Right Honourable Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at [email protected]
The Honourable Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland at [email protected]
The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development at [email protected]
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of National Revenue at [email protected]

For more information about the constitutional challenge, go to: https://csalc.ca/press-release-re-constitutional-challenge-to-ccb/ and https://www-thestar-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.thestar.com/amp/news/canada/2021/02/09/she-was-a-refugee-mother-living-in-a-shelter-with-two-kids-then-ottawa-told-her-she-had-to-repay-18000.html

Download the template letter here: https://csalc.ca/campaign-to-extend-canada-child-benefits-to-all-children-living-in-canada/

We are working on a public education campaign. If you would like to be part of our campaign, please sign up here: https://bit.ly/2Nj44gY

Please also share our campaign on social media:

Thank you for your support.

10/20/2020

"I am Canadian, but do you see me as one?"

Read our Clinic Director, Avvy Go's article here: https://csalc.ca/i-am-canadian-but-do-you-see-me-as-one/

Learn more about what you can do to help: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/community/toronto-for-all/anti-east-asian-racism/

10/19/2020

We all deserve to feel welcome in Toronto. That's why we need to put a stop to anti-East Asian racism and racist words, phrases, or actions. Help us make sure our Toronto is a . Join Ccncsj and City of Toronto Jobs and learn more at https://www.toronto.ca/.../toront.../anti-east-asian-racism/

We all deserve to feel welcome in Toronto. That's why we need to put a stop to anti-East Asian racism and racist words, phrases, or actions. Help us make sure our Toronto is a . Join us and City of Toronto - Your Local Government and learn more at https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/community/toronto-for-all/anti-east-asian-racism/

10/19/2020

Acts of anti-East Asian racism have been on the
rise in our communities since the start of the
pandemic. Racist acts have NO place in our city.
Be an ally. Help make our
Toronto a .

Learn more about how to make Toronto a safer place:
https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/get-involved/community/toronto-for-all/anti-east-asian-racism/

10/01/2020

Shared from City of Toronto - Your Local Government:

"Do you have a question about housing standards in Toronto?
Test a new communication service by texting 647-424-1165 between October 1 - 7, 2020. This will take about 5 minutes.

By texting this number, you are agreeing to have the City of Toronto collect and retain the history of the text conversation. Please note that this is a concept test only and as such, the information may not be accurate. You may incur charges for texts depending on your phone plan (for example, if you pay per text message). No other information will be recorded and your phone number will not be kept on file. Your participation in this test will help us design the best tenant communications experiences for you. If you have any questions about this project or participation in this test, please contact Anne-Marie Croce at [email protected] or 416-676-6455.

Additionally, we are scheduling 30-minute video chats to receive feedback about the service. You will be compensated should you qualify to participate in these chat sessions. If you are interested in participating or have questions about this, please email us at [email protected]."

04/29/2020

UPDATE: The application deadline is now extended to June 5, 2020. https://csalc.ca/job-posting-for-staff-lawyer-contract-april-2020/

We are hiring a junior staff lawyer on a one year contract basis, with the possibility of extension. Check out our website for more information: https://csalc.ca/job-posting-for-staff-lawyer-contract-april-2020/

Please send your application to us by May 29, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. by email: [email protected], or at 123 Edward, Suite 505, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1E2, Fax: (416) 971-6780.

SOCIAL JUSTICE LAWYER ONE YEAR CONTRACT POSITION CHINESE AND SOUTHEAST ASIAN LEGAL CLINIC Download the job posting here: Job posting for staff Lawyer (contract) (April 2020) Funded by Legal Aid Ontario, the Chinese & Southeast Asian Legal Clinic (CSALC) is a dynamic community legal clinic which serv...

03/18/2020

CSALC SERVICES UPDATE: COVID-19

In order to assist in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, CSALC has decided to suspend walk-in services as well as all in person public legal education sessions, and would only meet clients with appointments until further notice.

We will continue to make appointment with clients who need in-person service by putting in screening mechanisms and taking extra precaution measures within our workplace.

We hope that by taking these measures, we will minimize the risk to our staff, our clients and our communities, while at the same time, doing our best to maintain both the level and the quality of services to our clients.

Please contact our reception at 416-971-9674. Sorry for the inconvenience caused.

Before you enter our clinic, please read the following questions.
(1)Are you having flu-like symptoms, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing?
(2)In the last 14 days, have you traveled outside of Canada or had close contact with someone who has?
(3)Have you been in close contact with someone confirmed or is being evaluated for COVID-19?

We ask anyone who can answer “yes” to any of the questions to not visit our office. Rather, please contact our reception at 416-971-9674. Thank you for your cooperation.

12/20/2019

Check out a new Podcast Mini-Series created by Colour of Poverty - Colour of Change, featuring our Executive Director! Our clinic is part of the COP-COC Steering Committee, along with OCASI CASSA South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario and many others!

In this first episode of a podcast mini-series by Colour of Poverty-Colour of Change (COP-COC), guests introduce COP-COC, discuss systemic racism in Canada, and breakdown why Canada needs a Nationa…

12/17/2019

Our office hour for Christmas Eve December 24 is from 9 am to 5 pm. We will be closed for the Christmas Holiday from December 25, 2019 to January 1, 2020 inclusive. We will re-open on January 2, 2020.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Our office hour for Christmas Eve December 24 is from 9 am to 5 pm. We will be closed for the Christmas Holiday from December 25, 2019 to January 1, 2020 inclusive. We will re-open on January 2, 2020 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! *** 本中心在聖誕節前夕12月24日（星期二）的辦公....

11/21/2019

Our Executive Director discusses the City of Toronto Charter with OMNI News, Focus Cantonese on November 19, 2019.

專訪有份草擬憲章建議書的華越柬寮法律援助中心負責人吳瑤瑤律師

11/20/2019

Watch Now: NO ADVOCATE Video talks about the impact of legal aid cuts on our communities. Please share with your networks. https://youtu.be/tYdgAc1v3Xc

NO ADVOCATE was made in an effort to shine light on the great work done by Toronto-based legal clinics and the trickle down impact cuts to Legal Aid Ontario ...