Minister Fraser with Ukrainian community representatives at St. John’s Cultural Centre in Edmonton. Photo: Marco Levytsky
NP-UN National Affairs Desk.
Ukrainians arriving in Canada to get 6 weeks of support
Federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser says Ukrainians arriving in Canada will be eligible for two weeks of temporary hotel accommodation and up to six weeks of income support, reports The Canadian Press.
He said the income support will be $500 per week. Fraser added many of the people arriving have family or other connections in Canada, so it's unclear how many will need the temporary accommodations.
The minister also said Canada won't require biometrics from people under the age of 18, over the age of 60, and those with previous Canadian visas that have no immigration issues.
Previously in those cases, it was left up to the “decision maker's discretion” whether to collect biometrics — fingerprints and a photo.
Fraser said the government is making the move to “reduce the pressure on biometrics collection.”
He added that Canada has already approved more than 30,000 applications under the program.
He said his department is also working to help facilitate travel for those who may not have travel documents.
“This means that for family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents currently residing in Ukraine who don't hold valid travel documents IRCC can issue single journey travel documents on an exceptional basis to support their travel to Canada,” Fraser said.
He said his department recently announced it is expanding settlement supports to provide access to key services to settle into new communities, such as language training, information about life in Canada, information on how to enroll children in school, and employment aid.
Earlier on April 9, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that targeted charter flights will be offered to Ukrainians coming to Canada.
Transport Minister Omar Alghabra said his department is working with Canadian airlines to organize the flights, but details haven't been finalized. He said many of the affected Ukrainians are spread over a wide area and some aren't ready to leave just yet.
“No one should be forced to flee their homes and we are committed to helping Ukrainians who have had to leave their country because of this illegal war,” Alghabra said.
“As Canadians we will do what we do best. We will stand up for Ukrainians and warmly welcome them as they adjust to new life here in their new country,” he added.
New Pathway – Ukrainian News emailed Alghabra’s office to ask: How will you decide who is to come on these flights? How can they be put on a list for eligibility? And What information do they need to provide in order to become eligible?
The ministry’s Media Relations replied that the Government of Canada continues to work on the details of this initiative.and that they have also reached out to a few other federal departments for information.
“Should there be any additional information, we’ll let you know,” they stated.
Ihor Michalchyshyn, chief executive of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, told The Globe and Mail he was pleased to see the new measures, since many refugees don’t have the money to get to Canada on their own and need temporary assistance before they’re able to support themselves.
“We’re glad to see they’re listening to the concerns we’re raising,” he said.
“Today’s announcement speaks to the nature of the refugee population that we’re talking about … The assumptions of the original program were that people would self-finance to get here,” which he added is an unrealistic expectation of women and children who have spent weeks being battered by war.
He said he’d like to see improvements to Canada’s requirement that refugees submit to biometric assessments to enter the country. That, he noted, is one of the biggest hurdles for refugees, some of whom have waited nearly two months to go through the process.
He said Canada hasn’t seen an influx of Ukrainian refugees yet because of processing delays, but that he hopes to see larger numbers reach the country in May and June.
In addition to humanitarian aid for the Ukrainian people, Ottawa has pledged financial support for Ukraine’s war-ravaged government.
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