Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Thousands of Ukrainians approved to come to Canada

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 28 Feb, 2022 05:43 PM
  • Thousands of Ukrainians approved to come to Canada

OTTAWA — Nearly 4,000 Ukrainians have been approved to immigrate to Canada since conflict with Russia began, Canada's immigration minister said Monday.

The Canadian government prioritized existing immigration applications from Ukraine since thousands of people began to flee Russian aggression in the region.

"We expected upon reports of a potential further invasion into Ukraine that we would see displacement of Ukrainians. That's why we started preparing more than a month ago to ensure we had the ability to respond to a potential influx of people seeking to come to Canada," Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said at a briefing Monday.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Russian President Vladimir Putin has created a refugee crisis, and the United Nations Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said about 500,000 people in Ukraine have fled to neighbouring countries so far.

On Tuesday the UN is expected to make a plea for humanitarian support for Ukrainians displaced by the violence in their country, and those who are still within the country's borders.

The immigration minister said he has been speaking to members of the Ukrainian Canadian community, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and businesses about how best to welcome people to the safety of Canada, and said he will announce further action to address the crisis in the days to come.

The NDP has urged Canada to drop visa requirements for Ukrainians to come to Canada to ensure people seeking safety aren't "subjected to a bureaucratic nightmare."

"The European Union, and most recently Ireland, have already waived the requirements for visas for Ukrainians. If these other nations can do it, the Liberal government has absolutely no excuse for refusing to act," said NDP immigration critic Jenny Kwan in a statement Monday.

The government is not reviewing the visa requirement at the moment, Jean-Marc Gionet, director general with immigration program guidance, testified at the Commons foreign affairs committee Monday.

Fraser told the briefing that Canada has installed extra resources in offices in Poland, Austria and Romania to improve capacity to handle a potential influx of applications to come to Canada.

"Our goal is to identify the best path forward to allow more Ukrainians to come to Canada easily and safely," Fraser said.

The government has also extended temporary status to Ukrainians who are already in Canada on work, visitor and student permits and cannot return home.

As for Canadians in Russia, the prime minister would not commit to repatriating those who could potentially face a backlash as a result of Canada's actions in support of Ukraine.

The government closed Canada's airspace to Russian aircraft last weekend, and while the government will offer assistance to people facing difficulty throughout the world, Trudeau said the situation is very difficult.

MORE National ARTICLES

Experts react to expanding BC Wildfire Service

Experts react to expanding BC Wildfire Service
A fire ecologist says new provincial funding to expand the BC Wildfire Service to a year-round endeavour is a welcome step toward preventing disasters, while others in the field say the funds could be better spent elsewhere.

Experts react to expanding BC Wildfire Service

NDP asks Liberals to drop EI mat leave appeal

NDP asks Liberals to drop EI mat leave appeal
In his letter to Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough, NDP critic Daniel Blaikie says an appeal of the tribunal ruling would only prolong access to justice for new parents who lose their jobs.

NDP asks Liberals to drop EI mat leave appeal

Kamloops, B.C., child honoured for brave act

Kamloops, B.C., child honoured for brave act
A post on the City of Kamloops Facebook page says Jane Deelstra received a certificate from Kamloops RCMP Supt. Syd Lecky on Tuesday, recognizing her "great bravery and perseverance."

Kamloops, B.C., child honoured for brave act

Ottawa mulls closing street in front of Parliament

Ottawa mulls closing street in front of Parliament
Downtown Ottawa Coun. Catherine McKenney has floated the idea of working with federal officials and the community to close Wellington Street, which runs directly along Parliament Hill, to all vehicles except public transit, pedestrians and cyclists.    

Ottawa mulls closing street in front of Parliament

Stabbing at a local Surrey high school leaves two teens injured

Stabbing at a local Surrey high school leaves two teens injured
Surrey RCMP say they responded to reports of a stabbing on the school grounds Tuesday afternoon. They say in a news release that teenagers were found with non-life-threatening injuries and taken to hospital.

Stabbing at a local Surrey high school leaves two teens injured

Tories end boycott of national security committee

Tories end boycott of national security committee
Interim Conservative leader Candice Bergen announced the reversal on Tuesday, saying she was writing to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to have Tory MPs Michelle Rempel Garner and Rob Morrison appointed to the committee.

Tories end boycott of national security committee