National

Feds fund legal advice for Ukrainians in Canada as immigration questions linger

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 20 Feb, 2024 10:54 AM

Justice Minister Arif Virani says the government will expand a legal advice hotline for war-displaced Ukrainians in Canada to help them understand their rights and navigate the immigration system.

The news comes as many Ukrainians anxiously wait to find out whether Canada will offer them a permanent stay after their emergency visas expire.

This weekend marks the second anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which sparked a massive refugee crisis as million of Ukrainians fled the country.

The federal government has since granted more than 950,000 temporary emergency visas to Ukrainians so they can wait out the war in Canada, and more than 220,000 have actually made the journey.

Pro Bono Ontario says it has received an increase in calls from people asking about extending their visa and work permits, applying for refugee status or seeking permanent residency in Canada.

The group intends to expand its hotline service to war-displaced Ukrainians across Canada using more than $475,000 in new federal funding.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

BoC expected to take its time with interest rate cuts after January's job gain

The Bank of Canada will be in no rush to cut interest rates after Statistics Canada reported a larger-than-expected employment gain last month, economists say. The federal agency's labour force survey released Friday said the economy added 37,000 jobs in January after several months of relatively no change in employment. Canada’s unemployment rate fell to 5.7 per cent last month, marking the first decline since December 2022.

BoC expected to take its time with interest rate cuts after January's job gain

Trudeau says he's furious over Bell Media layoffs, calling it a 'garbage decision'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is trash-talking BCE Inc.'s widespread layoffs, calling the cuts a "garbage decision." Trudeau says he's furious over Bell Media's decision to end multiple television newscasts and that the corporation should know better.

Trudeau says he's furious over Bell Media layoffs, calling it a 'garbage decision'

Bear spray sold illegally: VPD

An undercover operation led by Vancouver police has resulted in 20-thousand-dollars in fines against 10 different businesses that illegally sold bear spray. Vancouver bylaw restricts where bear spray can be displayed in stores, limiting sale of the product to people over age 19 and requiring stores to keep sales records.

Bear spray sold illegally: VPD

Poilievre pledges to fix broken access-to-information system, release more faster

Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is pledging to fix the federal access-to-information system to speed up response times and release more information. He made the commitment during a news conference in Vancouver on Thursday, where the Opposition leader announced a new revenue plan for First Nations alongside leaders in the region.

Poilievre pledges to fix broken access-to-information system, release more faster

BC snowpack 40% below normal

B.C. went on to experience deep and prolonged drought after a record-breaking heat wave in May spurred rapid melting and drying. Then came the province's devastating fire season. Thursday's bulletin says the low snowpack combined with warm seasonal forecasts and "lingering impacts" from the previous drought are creating "significantly elevated drought hazards" for 2024.

BC snowpack 40% below normal

Non-profit buys two B.C. co-ops

Premier David Eby says the first purchase using the government's Rental Protection Fund will save 290 affordable rental units in two housing co-ops that have expired leases and were facing the prospect of being sold out from under the residents. Eby says the government's fund will contribute $71 million towards the $125 million acquisition in the Metro Vancouver city of Coquitlam by the non-profit Community Land Trust of B.C.