Mapping Law and Livelihood: What South Asian Newcomers Need to Know to Settle in Canada
From Toronto, Ontario: How South Asian newcomers can access legal support, housing protection, and immigration relief through SALCO and beyond.
Many South Asian newcomers arrive in Canada without access to, or a clear understanding of, legal information about their rights as tenants, workers, and immigrants. For the eighth edition of ImpactInk, Program Manager Wardah Malik sat down with Shalini Konanur, Executive Director of the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO), to unpack the most common legal challenges newcomers face and the services available to address them. This is the third and final civic education-based article in a special series called Newcomer Navigator, funded by GLOCAL, which also identifies tools for newcomer legal empowerment.
Wardah Malik: This series was created to help South Asian newcomers navigate life in Canada. What legal services does the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario provide for those not familiar with Canada’s legal system?
Shalini Konanur: SALCO is a not-for-profit community legal aid clinic established to assist low-income South Asians across Ontario. The clinic specializes in providing legal advice, brief services, and, in some cases, legal representation in a number of areas of law including immigration, employment, income support, tenancy, family, human rights, and consumer debt. You can find our list of services on our website at www.salc.on.ca. Additionally, SALCO conducts Public Legal Education (PLE) sessions in the community and in collaboration with not-for-profit agencies, faith-based spaces, schools, and the health sector. These sessions are regularly attended by newcomers to Canada.
Wardah Malik: Many South Asian newcomers describe difficulties understanding Canadian law and procedures. Does SALCO offer culturally tailored services, including translations?
Shalini Konanur: SALCO staff speak seven different South Asian languages including Tamil, Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali, and Kannada. We provide direct legal services in these languages. In cases where we do not have staff with a specific language expertise, we also use Legal Aid-funded interpretation services. We provide legal education in these South Asian languages as well.
SALCO is often asked to review legal documents prepared by federal or provincial governments or other organizations to ensure that outreach materials are appropriate for translation into South Asian languages. We are committed to making the legal process more accessible and culturally relevant for South Asian communities.
Wardah Malik: A previous interviewee mentioned that many newcomers, especially international students, are in precarious housing situations due to financial constraints. What housing protections are available to newcomers?
Shalini Konanur: As a tenant in Ontario, you have legal rights under both the Human Rights Code and the Residential Tenancies Act. Before renting, it is important to know that a landlord cannot refuse to rent to you based on your race, place of origin, ethnic background, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, family status, marital status, disability, or age. For example, a landlord cannot deny you housing because you are a newcomer to Canada or because you have children. While discrimination does occur, there are legal options under human rights law to respond to these situations.
It is also important to understand that the Residential Tenancies Act does not apply to everyone. People living in emergency shelters, hospitals or nursing homes, prisons, student residences or dormitories, seasonal or temporary accommodations, or units where they share a kitchen or bathroom with the landlord or the landlord’s family are not protected under the Act.
Once you move in as a tenant, you have key rights. You have the right to a home that is safe and in good repair, even if you were aware of problems before moving in. You may be required to have tenant insurance as part of your lease. This insurance can protect you and cover expenses in the event of an accident, even if you were not at fault. You have the right to access essential services such as heat, hot and cold water, electricity, and fuel. Your landlord cannot turn off these services, even if you are behind on rent, although they may temporarily interrupt them for repairs.
From September 1 to June 1, your landlord must heat your home to at least 20 degrees Celsius. Some municipalities have higher standards or different timelines, so it is a good idea to check with your local government. If your home has central air conditioning, the landlord may also be required to keep the temperature below 26 degrees Celsius during the summer months, depending on municipal bylaws.
You have the right to privacy, and your landlord can only enter your home for specific reasons such as making repairs, showing the unit to prospective tenants, or responding to an emergency. Your landlord can only increase the rent once every 12 months and must follow the legal limits, unless they receive special permission from the Landlord and Tenant Board. You can only be evicted for specific legal reasons, and if your landlord tries to evict you, you are entitled to a hearing at the Landlord and Tenant Board.
You also have the right to have children living in your home, and your family is allowed to make a reasonable amount of noise. You are entitled to receive a written tenancy agreement, written notice of your landlord’s legal name and address, and rent receipts.
Community Legal Education Ontario, or CLEO, has an excellent website called Steps to Justice at www.stepstojustice.ca, which explains legal rights in housing and many other areas of law.
Wardah Malik: Often newcomers are victims of rental scams. How can this be avoided to secure suitable and affordable housing?
Shalini Konanur: It is unfortunate that rental scams are increasing across Canada, and newcomers are often targeted. There are a few ways to protect yourself when looking for a place to rent. Try to avoid cash deals that cannot be tracked. Whenever possible, visit the property in person and confirm that what is being advertised matches what you will actually be renting. Keep all documents and agreements in case you need to report the scam to authorities. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. Be cautious of deals that offer extremely low rent or questionable perks. Try to research the landlord or roommates in advance and meet them in person before signing anything or transferring money.
Wardah Malik: To address the deeper issue of the previous question, what income assistance programs are available to South Asian newcomers?
Shalini Konanur: There are no specific income assistance programs designed only for newcomers. However, if someone is struggling financially, they may qualify for existing programs depending on their situation. These include Ontario Works, which is commonly referred to as welfare, and the Ontario Disability Support Program for people with disabilities. Newcomers may also be eligible for the Canada Child Benefit if they have children, Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement for seniors, Canada Pension Plan benefits if there are agreements with their home country, and Employment Insurance if they have recently worked and lost their job. The Steps to Justice website offers helpful information on all of these programs.
Wardah Malik: Does SALCO offer support for newcomers whose foreign credentials are not recognized by employers?
Shalini Konanur: Unfortunately, we do not provide direct assistance for issues related to unrecognized foreign credentials. However, SALCO is proud to employ the highest number of foreign-trained lawyers in Ontario’s clinic system. We have done extensive advocacy work on the challenges faced by foreign-trained professionals and continue to focus on the barriers created by the accreditation process.
Wardah Malik: How can newcomers financially plan for home ownership and better integrate into the financial and legal systems of Canada? How can the Canadian government better assist with this integration?
Shalini Konanur: Awareness is essential. Every newcomer should learn about their legal rights and responsibilities. This knowledge is key to financial success and long-term stability. Newcomers can access financial planning help through community organizations and banks. Government support can be improved by making legal and financial systems easier to understand and more culturally accessible.
Wardah Malik: Regarding immigration, what is the main issue affecting South Asian newcomers and what is SALCO doing to mitigate its effects?
Shalini Konanur: One of the biggest immigration challenges for South Asian newcomers is family reunification. Many are effectively excluded from the Parent and Grandparent sponsorship program because there have been very few application draws over the past five years. In addition, there are long delays in processing spousal sponsorships and applications for family members of protected persons, which can take between 12 and 36 months. Refusals of visitor visas for family members are also very common.
SALCO helps low-income clients with a wide range of immigration matters. We also advise newcomers who became permanent residents through successful refugee claims to be very careful before traveling back to their home countries, as doing so could put their immigration status at risk.
Wardah Malik: In 2025, thousands of Post-Graduation Work Permit holders, mainly South Asians, face deportation due to immigration caps and policy changes. How can SALCO assist these people?
Shalini Konanur: There is no simple answer. When a person’s immigration status expires, they are generally required to leave the country. However, in certain circumstances, someone with a Post-Graduation Work Permit may be able to apply for a Temporary Resident Permit or for permanent residence on Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds. These are considered exceptional options and are not available to everyone.
For example, if a permit holder is fleeing domestic violence and has children, they may need more time in Canada to resolve legal matters such as custody. A person may also apply for permanent residence on Humanitarian and Compassionate grounds if they are already in Canada and do not qualify under other immigration streams. These applications are complex and do not stop deportation while the case is being considered.
At SALCO, we regularly submit Temporary Resident Permit and Humanitarian and Compassionate applications for people who meet our criteria. We also encourage students with work permits nearing expiry to monitor skilled immigration draws and apply for permanent residence before their status runs out.
Resources for Newcomers in Canada
South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario (SALCO): Provides free legal services for low-income South Asians in Ontario in areas such as immigration, housing, income support, and family law. Also offers public legal education in multiple South Asian languages.
Steps to Justice – Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO): Trusted source for step-by-step legal information on housing, immigration, income supports, employment rights, and tenant protections.
Legal Aid Ontario (LAO): Offers legal services to low-income individuals, including help with immigration matters, tenant issues, family law, and more. Interpretation services are available.
Ontario Tenant Support Programs – Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO): Provides information and legal support to renters, especially on eviction prevention and housing rights.
Ontario Immigration – Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development: Provides information on immigration policies, credential recognition, and support for newcomers seeking to work or settle in Ontario.
Canada Revenue Agency – Benefits for Newcomers: Outlines eligibility and application processes for benefits such as the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), GST/HST credit, and Old Age Security.
Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP): Provides financial assistance and employment supports for eligible individuals and families in financial need.
Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials (CICIC): Helps internationally educated professionals get their credentials assessed and understand licensing requirements in Canada.
Settlement.Org (by OCASI): A comprehensive hub for newcomers in Ontario, offering guides on housing, employment, health care, legal services, and avoiding scams.
211 Ontario: A 24/7 multilingual helpline and online directory that connects people with community, social, health, and legal services.
Shalini Konanur is the Executive Director and senior lawyer at the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario. She graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1998 and was called to the Bar in Ontario in 2000. Shalini has spent her entire legal career in Ontario’s legal aid clinic system, practicing in rural and urban settings with diverse populations. She practices in a number of areas of law including immigration, family, human rights, employment, income maintenance, housing, and gender-based violence. Shalini has appeared at all levels of court up to the Supreme Court of Canada and has provided expert advice related to racism, discrimination, and gender-based violence to multiple levels of governments, to civil society organizations, the private sector, and internationally at the United Nations.
Wardah Malik is the Manager and Editor-in-Chief of the ImpactInk Program under BacharLorai’s Policy Research Pillar.
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