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QTMAA Advocating for Queer & Trans Migrant Rights
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Queer Migrant Group Demands Federal Funding Boost

By  October 10, 2026 Refugee/Asylum 0 Views

A Windsor-based charity representing queer and trans migrants has joined forces with more than 40 organisations nationwide, urging Ottawa to shell out £250 million (approx. 295 075 000 € ) for a renewed 2SLGBTQ+ action plan.

The Queer and Trans Migrant Advocacy Alliance of Windsor-Essex (QTMAAWE) made its plea on Parliament Hill yesterday, warning that Canada’s reputation as a haven for LGBTQ+ refugees hinges on sustained government support.

Beacon Of Hope

«What we are saying is that, yes, the funding was there, but we need more because integration keeps on happening», said Anold Mulaisho, QTMAAWE’s managing director, in an exclusive interview with CBC News.

Mulaisho, who arrived in Canada three years ago after fleeing Zambia where same-sex relations carry sentences of seven years to life, knows the stakes intimately.

«Canada serves as a beacon of hope for the queer community around the world», they added.

Billions Not Spared

The coalition is seeking $450 million (CAD) (approx. € 282,285,000) in federal funding over five years as part of Budget 2026.

That would nearly quintuple the original $100 million (approx. €62,260,000) package launched in August 2022 under then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – currently set to run dry in March.

Seventy-five per cent of the initial programme money went to community organisations focused on diversity and inclusion.

Grassroots Impact

QTMAAWE, formed in 2024, hasn’t received any money from the original programme. But director of program and project management Samuel Offiaeli watched how the cash transformed other charities.

«Organisations that got funding… were able to hire skilled staff that are able to deliver programs and they were able to have community liaisons», Offiaeli told reporters.

«And this is very key for organisations because private donors does not fund capacity building or staff hiring».

Employment Barriers

The push isn’t just about money, it’s about removing obstacles. Toronto-based Hope for Refugees International director Patrick Mwesigye told the gathering that refugee access to employment remains a major hurdle.

«So as we call for the renewed action plan that is set to expire, we also want to see, in particular, refugees and newcomers at the centre of the plan», he said (reported by NOW Toronto.

No Firm Promises Yet

Offiaeli admitted Members of Parliament seemed sympathetic during meetings but stopped short of binding commitments.

If the funding comes through, QTMAAWE plans to expand its safe space communities programme, tackling transport costs, peer support networks, and helping queer newcomers navigate employment, housing and healthcare systems.

With persecution of 2SLGBTQ+ individuals rising globally, the group argues this isn’t charity, it’s necessity.

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