Background The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the opioid crisis. Opioid-related deaths have increased and access to treatment services, including opioid agonist treatment (OAT), has been disrupted. The Ontario COVID-19 OAT Treatment Guidance document was developed to facilitate access to OAT and continuity of care during the pandemic, while supporting physical distancing measures. In particular, the Guidance expanded access to unsupervised OAT dosing. It is important to evaluate the changes in unsupervised OAT dosing after the release of the Ontario COVID-19 OAT Guidance based on patients’ and prescribers’ reports. Method Online questionnaires were developed collaboratively with people with lived and living expertise, prescribers, clinical experts, and researchers. Patients ( N =402) and prescribers ( N =100) reported their experiences with changes in unsupervised dosing during the first six months of the pandemic. Results Many patients (57%) reported receiving additional unsupervised OAT doses (i.e., take away doses). Patients who received additional unsupervised doses were not significantly more likely to report adverse health outcomes compared to patients who did not receive additional unsupervised doses. Patients with additional unsupervised doses and prescribers agreed that changes in OAT care were positive (e.g., reported an improved patient-prescriber relationship and more openness between patient and prescriber). Prescribers and some patients reported the need for continued flexibility in unsupervised doses after the pandemic restrictions lift. Conclusions Results support the need to re-evaluate historical approaches to OAT care delivery, particularly unsupervised doses. It is crucial to implement policies, regulations, and supports to reduce barriers to OAT care during the pandemic and once the pandemic response restrictions are eased. Flexibility in OAT care delivery, particularly unsupervised dosing, will be key to providing patient-centred care for persons with opioid use disorder.

On November 19, 2014, a panel of experts convened at Ryerson University to discuss the consequences of recent developments in Canada’s immigration and settlement policies. These developments have been summarized in the RCIS Working Paper A Critical Review and Assessment of Canada’s Fast Changing Immigration Policies by Lotf Ali Jan Ali. The panel consisted of Ratna Omidvar, Executive Director of the Global Diversity Exchange; Morton Beiser, Professor of Distinction in Psychology; Gil Lan, Assistant Professor, Ted Rogers School of Management; and Naomi Alboim, Adjunct Professor at Queen’s University School of Policy Studies. The panel was chaired by Academic Director of RCIS, Harald Bauder. In this Research Brief, we summarize the main points of the discussion.¹

This qualitative and exploratory research project focuses on the way in which culturally appropriate care is being provided to older immigrants in ethno-specific longterm care settings in the Greater Toronto Area. Key Informant interviews with administrators of ethno-specific long-term care facilities were utilized in order to gather data on best practices and lessons learned for addressing the cultural needs of older immigrants living in long-term care. The research findings reinforce the need for ethnospecific long-term care programs, as well as culturally sensitive care in all programs, which alleviate the environmental stressors of institutional care and aging. Research recommendations point to a need for greater knowledge sharing within the long-term care sector, as well as increased education to service providers as to the historical context of the immigration and life experiences of ethno-specific groups in care. As well, there is a need for a shift in design of long-term care that addresses systemic issues of inequality that restrict how cultural care is delivered.Multiculturalism.

This qualitative and exploratory research project focuses on the way in which culturally appropriate care is being provided to older immigrants in ethno-specific longterm care settings in the Greater Toronto Area. Key Informant interviews with administrators of ethno-specific long-term care facilities were utilized in order to gather data on best practices and lessons learned for addressing the cultural needs of older immigrants living in long-term care. The research findings reinforce the need for ethnospecific long-term care programs, as well as culturally sensitive care in all programs, which alleviate the environmental stressors of institutional care and aging. Research recommendations point to a need for greater knowledge sharing within the long-term care sector, as well as increased education to service providers as to the historical context of the immigration and life experiences of ethno-specific groups in care. As well, there is a need for a shift in design of long-term care that addresses systemic issues of inequality that restrict how cultural care is delivered.Multiculturalism.

On November 19, 2014, a panel of experts convened at Ryerson University to discuss the consequences of recent developments in Canada’s immigration and settlement policies. These developments have been summarized in the RCIS Working Paper A Critical Review and Assessment of Canada’s Fast Changing Immigration Policies by Lotf Ali Jan Ali. The panel consisted of Ratna Omidvar, Executive Director of the Global Diversity Exchange; Morton Beiser, Professor of Distinction in Psychology; Gil Lan, Assistant Professor, Ted Rogers School of Management; and Naomi Alboim, Adjunct Professor at Queen’s University School of Policy Studies. The panel was chaired by Academic Director of RCIS, Harald Bauder. In this Research Brief, we summarize the main points of the discussion.¹