OTTAWA — A program that has transported more than 200,000 Ukrainians to Canada is approaching an end this month with the course of the war still very much undefined and countless Ukrainians uncertain about what home they might have to come back to.
Shortly after Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, Ottawa announced the Canada-Ukraine provisional sanction for an emergency travel program, CUAET, letting Ukrainians apply to travel to Canada and stay for up to three years.
Ukrainians had up until last July to apply for the package and have until the end of March to come to Canada. Since the program commenced, 960,000 individuals have been permitted to come to Canada, but as of the end of February, only around 250,000 people had arrived.
Ihor Michalchyshyn, CEO and executive director of the Ukrainian Canadian Assembly, said they have realized an upsurge in Ukrainians using the visas in the past few weeks.
We’re seeing more entrances week over week since individuals are trying to come, individuals are coming before the end of it, he informed.
The primary deadline to arrive in Canada was last year; Michalchyshyn’s organization urged for extra time and the government approved, but he said now they understand it is time for the program to conclude.
Two years was a sensible timeframe for individuals to come and make their choices, he said.
Ukraine has suffered hindrances on the battleground in recent weeks, losing the town of Avdiivka and numerous smaller villages neighboring.
Michalchyshyn said he does not expect the shifting situations on the ground to lead to a large influx in new entrances to Canada because individuals in the war zone have already been existing with the conflict for more than two years.
That part of Ukraine that was occupied by Russia, is abandoned, three-quarters of the inhabitants have been evacuated previously, he said.
He said the question is how many of them might want to stay in Canada permanently.
Operation Ukraine Safe Haven, a society that unites federal and provincial governments to manage assistance to Ukrainians surveyed individuals who arrived under the provisional visa program and found 92% required to apply for permanent residence.
Just over 80% had found work in Canada, generally within a month of arriving and most are in Ontario or Alberta.
In addition to the provisional programs, the government has initiated a permanent residency program for Ukrainians and their family in Canada. That program is estimated to end in October, Michalchyshyn said they would push for an extension because, for most Ukrainian families, the future is still uncertain.
Will they have anything to return to? Is their homegrown going to be a free Ukraine or under Russian occupation? he said. Until the war ends, we do not think there can be a conclusion as to how this will end and if people will stay.
Mary Rose Sabater, a representative for Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada, said even after the CUAET program concludes, Ukrainians would be able to apply and come here under other programs.
She said the government will continue to monitor all immigration programs in light of the war in Ukraine. She said they anticipate the CUAET program will assist individuals interested in permanent immigration to progress their chances of being chosen.
The prolonged visit, work, and study status presented by CUAET — as well as admission to settlement services — will help those looking to change through these programs, she said. This could be by cultivating language skills, gaining work experience in Canada, or having their foreign identifications recognized.
