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Government of Canada launches online portal to support Ukrainians

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Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada | Cision News | Posted May 11, 2022
Read the full article on Cision News by clicking here.

The government is inviting Canadian businesses to help meet the immediate needs of Ukrainians arriving in Canada

OTTAWA, ON, May 11, 2022 /CNW/ – The Government of Canada is resolute in supporting Ukrainians and their families as they flee the war in their country. The government has provided humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine and is looking to do more, notably by encouraging Canadians to welcome displaced Ukrainians as they arrive in Canada.

Recognizing Canadians’ generosity and the interest expressed by companies in supporting Canada’s response to the crisis in Ukraine, the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, today launched the new Canadian Industry for Ukraine donation portal. Through this online portal, Canadian businesses can provide offers of high-priority goods and services to support displaced Ukrainians and the organisations providing aid and resettlement services. At this time, the focus is on large-scale donations, including temporary housing, gift cards for the purchase of priority items, transportation and jobs for those arriving in Canada.

The Minister also announced some early donations through the online portal from large Canadian companies representing a combined value of over $400,000. These offers are from Loblaw, Canadian Tire, Metro and Couche-Tard.

Canadian businesses are invited to visit the new Canadian Industry for Ukraine online portal, which provides a simple way for businesses to submit their offers, and to check it regularly for possible updates to the list of priority items.

This call to action follows recently announced measures that include targeted charter flights to Canada for Ukrainian nationals, short-term income support to ensure basic needs are met and temporary hotel accommodation for those who require support.

Quotes

“We will do everything we can to help those in need as they flee conflict and seek safety. That’s why our government has been there to support the people of Ukraine in light of the unjustified and horrific actions of Vladimir Putin. Today, we are calling on Canadian industry to lend its support and help those who are finding a new home here in Canada. I’m grateful to see the generosity of those Canadian companies that have already stepped up, and I know many more will do their part to help those in need.”
– The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

“Canada is committed to providing Ukrainians and their families with a safe haven while the illegal war continues in their country. Supporting Ukrainians before, during and after they arrive in Canada continues to be a Team Canada approach. With today’s launch, Canadian businesses can continue to step up and lead by example by supporting the worlds most vulnerable.”
– The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

“An all-of-Canada response is needed to provide displaced Ukrainians who will be settling in this country with a warm welcome, a helping hand and immediate post-arrival settlement supports. We are pleased to be collaborating with the federal government to bring much-needed supports to Ukrainians arriving in Canada. As with previous humanitarian movements, including the most recent Afghan Special Initiative currently underway, we welcome the support and offers from Canadian businesses to help us collectively make a difference for Ukrainians in this time of need.”
– Chris Friesen, Interim Co-Executive Director, Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance – Alliance canadienne du secteur de l’établissement des immigrants (CISSA-ACSEI)

“Loblaw’s purpose is to help Canadians live life well, which is a strong sentiment as our nation welcomes new people building new lives. With food, health, clothing and banking, our company can uniquely help people settle in a new home. Today, we’re providing funds for thousands of Ukrainian families to get the products they need. Looking ahead, we appreciate the Government of Canada portal making it simpler for companies to understand the best ways to help.”

– Kevin Groh, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communication, Loblaw Companies Limited

“At Canadian Tire Corporation, we are here to make life in Canada better, and that includes supporting the thousands arriving here as they flee the conflict in Ukraine. We are proud to support this call to action by providing $250,000 in gift cards to help provide essentials for our newcomers and have already provided more than $1M to the Red Cross’ Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal both corporately and through in-store fundraising.”
– Kim Saunders, Vice President of ESG Strategy and Community Impact, Canadian Tire Corporation.

“METRO is pleased to join Canadian companies to help families from Ukraine who are seeking refuge in Quebec and Ontario. After donating more than $1.6 million to the Canadian Red Cross through a fundraiser across our banners, we hope that this additional donation of $50,000 will help facilitate this new beginning for thousands of refugees.”
– Eric La Flèche, President and CEO, METRO

“Doing the right thing and acting as one team with our people are part of the values that guide us at Couche-Tard. Our Circle K brand allows us to have a global presence, particularly in Eastern Europe, where our people are directly impacted by the effects of the armed conflict in Ukraine. We are proud to be able to continue supporting and contributing to the efforts to welcome those who have been displaced by this terrible conflict.”
– Stéphane Trudel, Senior Vice President, Operations Canada, Couche-Tard.

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For further information: Laurie Bouchard, Senior Manager, Communications, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, laurie.bouchard@ised-isde.gc.ca; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, media@ised-isde.gc.ca

Immigration minister outlines measures to support Ukrainian refugees coming to Canada

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Author:  | CBC News |Posted: Mar 28, 2022 3:23 PM ET | Last Updated: March 29 | click here to read it on CBC News

Ottawa has expanded eligibility for some programs, including language training and employment assistance

Ukrainians coming to Canada under a new emergency immigration program may not be eligible for some critical services typically offered to people fleeing conflict.

People arriving from Ukraine under the government’s Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) will be considered temporary residents. That means they won’t have access to the full suite of services offered to refugees or people applying to become permanent residents.

That support is delivered through federal settlement services and a special health care program that provides coverage for people during their early days in Canada.

“That’s a whole soft-landing infrastructure that is available to people who come through a refugee resettlement stream which will not be available, as far as we know, under the current situation,” Christina Clark-Kazak, an associate professor of public and international affairs at the University of Ottawa, told CBC News.

The government confirmed last week that Ukrainians coming to Canada temporarily would not have access to those services. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser outlined tweaks to that approach on Monday afternoon.

Fraser wrote on Twitter that his government is expanding access to certain services for arriving Ukrainians, including “language training, orientation, employment assistance and other supports.”

Fraser did not list health care coverage as one of the expanded services. His office said work is underway to make changes to the programs offered when Ukrainians begin arriving in large numbers.

Canada has pledged to take in an “unlimited number” of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. People who arrive through the CUAET will be permitted to live and work in Canada for up to three years.

The UNHCR estimates that nearly 3.9 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the war started.

Settlement groups expecting large number of women and children

Experts in the fields of immigration and resettlement said the government’s approach allowed it to quickly open up a path to Canada for Ukrainians fleeing conflict.

The drawback of that strategy, at least initially, was that Ukrainians coming to Canada wouldn’t have access to key programs that could ease their transition to a new country.

“Our greatest challenge as we get ready to welcome displaced Ukrainians is ensuring that there are supports in every region of the country that are available for temporary residents, because they will not be eligible for the key programming that is currently available for permanent residents,” said Chris Friesen, chair of the Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance.

The CISSA was awarded a federal contract recently to establish a secretariat for the temporary resettlement of Ukrainians — a project Friesen’s group is calling “Ukraine Safe Haven.”

Friesen said many people coming to Canada through the CUAET will arrive with “significant trauma.” He also said services will need to prepare for a large influx of women and children.

“We are anticipating a large number of single women, mothers with children, who only a matter of weeks ago were displaced from their homes, their families, their sons, their husbands,” he said.

Clark-Kazak also raised concerns about Ukrainian women coming to Canada. Unlike refugees, the Ukrainians will not be arriving with the assistance of government-vetted, private sponsorship groups.

“People will have to rely on the informal networks that they have,” she said, warning of the risks of abuse or human trafficking faced by people coming here without adequate government support and oversight.

Access to public schooling for Ukrainian children coming to Canada also has not yet been guaranteed, Clark-Kazak said.

Unclear how Ukrainians will access health care in Canada

While Fraser has indicated that changes to the strategy are being made, questions remain about the type of health care services that will be offered to fleeing Ukrainians.

Temporary residents in Canada typically have to wait three to four months before becoming eligible for provincial or territorial health care coverage, Clark-Kazak said.

Refugees and permanent residents can have that period covered by the Interim Federal Health Program, but there’s no indication yet that similar health coverage will be extended to Ukrainians.

“Those are very basic health services,” Clark-Kazak said, adding that coverage for prescription medication is not usually included. “This is another gap or question that I think the government needs to address sooner rather than later.”

Advocates say it’s also not yet clear if arriving Ukrainians will have access to mental health services.

“We don’t know exactly what needs people are going to arrive with, but we do have to be ready,” said Frank Cohn, who works in trauma recovery with the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture.

“We don’t know exactly who’s going to be here providing that support and under what specific federal or provincial or local programs.”