Ukrainians rush to Manitoba to beat federal program deadline

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This article was published 18/03/2024 (599 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Thousands of Ukrainians have rushed to Manitoba from their war-stricken country in recent weeks before the door slams shut on a federal immigration program at the end of the month.

The Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program has helped about 23,000 Ukrainians arrive in Manitoba — and almost a million across the country — since Russia launched its war against Ukraine more than two years ago. It wraps up on March 31.

Ostap Skrypnyk, a spokesman for the Manitoba branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress said Monday around 4,000 Ukrainians have arrived in this province since December and another 1,000 could be on the way.

“Right now there is a steady stream, more than summer, because the program is coming to an end,” Skrypnyk said.

“After March 31, there’s no reason for them to come unless there is no place else in the world to go.”–Ostap Skrypnyk

He said the federal government did a survey in November to see how many of the Ukrainians who had applied for a visitor visa last summer would come before the end of March. Ukrainians had to apply under the program by July 15. He said about 70,000 Ukrainians responded and said they were coming to Canada. It wasn’t known how many would come to Manitoba.

“The benefit now is if they come in this program they get an open work visa and they can work any place. You can get health insurance and your kids can go to school. If you come after March 31, they would be on a visitor visa without work or the health benefit.

“After March 31, there’s no reason for them to come unless there is no place else in the world to go.”

The program allows Ukrainian nationals to apply for a free visitor visa to stay in Canada for three years, instead of the regular six-month visitor visa.

The program also enables Ukrainians to apply for an open work permit for free. They are exempt from having to follow any COVID-19 vaccination entry requirements, as well as having to complete an immigration medical exam before arriving in Canada.

A federal government fact sheet says while the program allows Ukrainians to come to Canada temporarily “due to the crisis resulting from (Russian) President (Vladimir) Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and then return home when it is safe to do so, it is not a refugee immigration stream.”

The Canadian government said the experience the Ukrainians will get, while working and studying in Canada, will help them with “future success should they eventually choose to seek permanent residency.”

Malaya Marcelino, the province’s labour and immigration minister, said Manitoba has benefited from Ukrainians coming to the province.

“While the circumstances Ukrainians have come to Manitoba for are not ideal, those who have settled here have brought tremendous value to our communities and province.”

“While the circumstances Ukrainians have come to Manitoba for are not ideal, those who have settled here have brought tremendous value to our communities and province.”–Malaya Marcelino

Marcelino said the government is working to put something in place for Ukrainians who come to Manitoba after April 1. She said Ukrainians will still be able to access general settlement services available to all newcomers. They are looking at adding more.

“Our government is working with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress-Manitoba Provincial Council to offer transitional supports to Ukrainians arrived after April 1,” Marcelino said.

“These will include welcome and orientation services, housing supports and English-language supports.”

Joanne Lewandoski, UCC Manitoba president, said the wave of immigrants in the last two years has helped Manitoba’s economy.

“These people have come with strong work ethics,” she said.

“The UCC probably matched 400 people with jobs. We paid for 800 to 900 people to get food handling certificates. There were 75 to 80 who came with teaching credentials. Six hundred to 700 people are able to learn English. That is all helping the economy.”

Meanwhile, Lewandoski said she believes there hasn’t been targeted violence against Ukrainians who have come to Manitoba.

“I think the violence, unfortunately, is they are in the wrong place at the wrong time,” she said. “It’s just unfortunate. They don’t have a sign saying ‘I’m Ukrainian.’”

There have been three incidents of violence in the past two years against Ukrainians who have come to Winnipeg.

Two men, who had just arrived from Ukraine, were attacked at The Forks during Canada Day in 2022, with one being stabbed and the other being pepper-sprayed. Two men have since pleaded guilty.

A man and his wife were walking home with groceries in January when two youth armed with a handgun-style air gun demanded their groceries. The man was left with a potentially life-changing injury when he was shot in the eye.

Last December, Ivan Rubanik, 46, died after being stabbed by a stranger in a random attack while walking to work.

kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca