People arriving from Ukraine under the approval of the Government of Canada-Ukraine for Emergency Travel (CUAET) will be considered as temporary residents. This means that they will not have access to the full range of services offered to refugees or people applying to become permanent residents.
This support is provided through federal installation services and a dedicated health care program that provides coverage for individuals during their early days in Canada.
“This is a whole smooth landing infrastructure available to people coming through a refugee relocation flow, which, as far as we know, will not be available under the current circumstances,” said Christina Clark-Kazak, Associate Professor of Public and International Affairs. affairs at the University of Ottawa, he told CBC News.
The government confirmed last week that Ukrainians coming to Canada temporarily will not have access to these services. Immigration Secretary Sean Fraser outlined modifications to the approach Monday afternoon.
Fraser wrote on Twitter that his government was expanding access to certain services for arriving Ukrainians, including “language training, guidance, employment assistance and other supporters.”
Canada will continue to support those fleeing the war in Ukraine.
We are expanding the federal settlement program to offer basic services such as language training, guidance, employment assistance and other support for Ukrainians as they settle into their new communities.
– @ SeanFraserMP
Fraser did not classify healthcare coverage as one of the expanded services. His office said work was continuing to make changes to the programs offered when Ukrainians began to reach large numbers.
Canada has pledged to accept an “unlimited number” of Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion. People arriving through CUAET will be allowed to live and work in Canada for up to three years.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that almost 3.9 million refugees have fled Ukraine since the start of the war.
Settlement groups waiting for a large number of women and children
Immigration and resettlement experts say the government’s approach has allowed it to quickly open a route to Canada for Ukrainians fleeing the conflict. The disadvantage of this strategy, at least initially, was that Ukrainians coming to Canada would not have access to basic programs that could facilitate their transition to a new country. “Our biggest challenge as we prepare to welcome displaced Ukrainians is to ensure that there is support available to temporary residents in every part of the country, as they will not be eligible for the basic programming currently available for permanent residents.” said Chris Friesen, president of the Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance. CISSA was recently awarded a federal contract to set up a secretariat for the temporary resettlement of Ukrainians – a project Friesen’s team calls “Ukraine’s Safe Haven”. SEE: Power & Politics presenter Vassi Kapelos talks to a Ukrainian refugee in Poland
Ukrainians leave their country unsure of the next steps
Power & Politics presenter Vassi Kapelos talks to a Ukrainian refugee who fled to Poland with her daughter. 3:49
Friesen said many people coming to Canada via CUAET would arrive with “significant trauma”. He also said that the services should be prepared for a large influx of women and children.
“We anticipate a large number of unmarried women, mothers with children, who just a few weeks ago were displaced from their homes, their families, their sons, their husbands,” she said.
Clark-Kazak also expressed concern about Ukrainians coming to Canada. Unlike refugees, Ukrainians will not arrive with the help of government-controlled private sponsorship groups.
“People should rely on the informal networks they have,” he said, warning of the risks of human abuse or trafficking faced by people coming here without adequate government support and oversight.
Access to public school for Ukrainian children coming to Canada has also not yet been secured, Clark-Kazak said.
Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said his government was working “to develop more ways to support [Ukrainians] in Canada. “(Adrian Wyld / The Canadian Press)
It is unclear how Ukrainians will have access to health care in Canada
While Fraser has stated that changes are being made to the strategy, questions remain about the type of health care services that will be offered to Ukrainians leaving. Temporary residents in Canada typically have to wait three to four months before being eligible for provincial or regional health care coverage, Clark-Kazak said. Refugees and permanent residents may be covered by the Provisional Federal Health Plan, but there is no indication yet that similar health coverage will be extended to Ukrainians. “These are very basic health services,” Clark-Kazak said, adding that coverage for prescription drugs is usually not included. “This is another gap or question that I think the government needs to address sooner rather than later.” Proponents of her case have been working to make the actual transcript of this statement available online. “We do not know exactly what the needs of the people will be, but we must be prepared,” said Frank Kohn, who works with the Vancouver Torture Survivors Association. “We do not know exactly who will be here providing this support and with what specific federal or provincial or local programs.”
