Resettling Special Refugees; Ukrainians in Canada

"It's a good opportunity to remind people that the war is still on. People are still moving around, there is a lot of uncertainty. I don't think anybody knows where they will end up or what they're going back to."

"There isn't a city or a region that hasn't been touched. Every Ukrainian knows somebody who's fighting or who's been killed. Ultimately, we need Ukraine to win the war and establish a peace for people to have that context and make decisions."

"The government of Ukraine is going to do everything it can to encourage people to come back when they feel safe, and there are lots of people going back now. It's a family decision. It's an individual decision based on circumstances, based on what they see in their future."

Ihor Michalchyshyn, CEO, Ukrainian Canadian Congress

"Ukrainians are still able to come to Canada by applying through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada's existing temporary resident programs. In recognition of the continued danger while Russia's invasion continues, we're implementing these new measures to ensure continued support to Ukrainians in Canada."

"The Government of Canada continues to do everything possible to help those fleeing Russia's invasion, which includes providing a safe haven and peace of mind."

Mary Rose Sabater, spokesperson, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

A communal worker sweeps outside an apartment building in Lviv, Ukraine, on July 7, 2023, a day after it was seriously damaged by a Russian missile strike.  2023 YURIY DYACHYSHYN/AFP via Getty Images

Canada is second in line to boast the largest expatriate community in the world of Ukrainian-Canadians. Only Russia has a greater number of Ukrainian-Russian citizens. And because of a virtual news blackout from Russia amidst threats of imprisonment for any criticism of Russia's 'special military operation', which is not to be termed 'conflict' or 'war', it can be anyone's guess what the huge Ukrainian population living in Russia feels about their country of origin being invaded, its citizens being killed, and its former country's infrastructure being destroyed, much less annexed by the country now hosting them as citizens.

Canada has the further distinction of a Canadian of Ukrainian extraction serving as its deputy prime minister, in Chrystia Freeland. Canada's commitment to political, diplomatic and material support to Ukraine -- during the year-and-a-half that the country has been struggling to defend itself from its powerful neighbour bent on subjugating it once again to the Russian Federation and once again claiming its geography and its resources -- is unquestioned. As a member of NATO which has itself pledged aid and assistance to Ukraine, Canada has been sending financial assistance and machinery of war to Ukraine.

Canada opened its doors to Ukrainians fleeing the violence that Russia has brought to their nation, offering temporary refuge for as long as the war persists. However, over the weekend a special visa program labelled the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel was allowed to expire. Ukrainians were enabled through the program to apply to come to Canada with limited barriers, permitting them to remain in the country for up to three years, to be able to legally work and to receive settlement supports.

 

170 Ukrainians met their host families and reunited with relatives, thanks to a new immigration program that's quite different from a refugee program. (CBC)

 

Calls to extend the program were rejected by the government and nor will new applications be accepted. Those who have already applied and their applications approved will continue to be able to come to Canada until March of 2024. After that period has elapsed, anyone can make application through the usual channels for immigration. Since the now-expired program was launched a month after the invasion, 1.1 million applications were received in total, about 800,000 processed and roughly 166,000 Ukrainians arrived in Canada.

With war still threatening civilians, points out Mr. Michalchyshyn, many holding one of the special visas, may yet decide to make use of them. There was a prewar population in Poland of just over 40 million people. Estimates are that up to ten million Ukrainians fled the country since the beginning of the invasion, while others have been internally displaced, in their millions. Canada's already large diaspora of Ukrainians may be further enlarged through the process of refugee haven.

Ukrainian soldiers prepare a Grad multiple rocket launcher to fire rockets at the Russian positions in the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, July 12, 2023. (Roman Chop via AP)