Ukrainian nationals fleeing the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine arrive in at the Richardson International Airport, in Winnipeg, Monday, May 23, 2022. Several immigrant settlement specialists say Ukrainians who fled to Canada with an emergency visa after the Russian invasion have been stuck in a "grey area" of Canada's immigration system, and they're urging the government to make changes in the next phase of the crisis response. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski
OTTAWA – Several immigrant specialists say Ukrainians who have fled to Canada with an emergency visa are stuck in a “grey area” of the immigration system, and they’re urging the government to make changes.
Canada took a new approach to the crisis sparked by the Russian invasion last year, offering an unlimited number of temporary visas to Ukrainians while they figure out their next steps.
Those visa-holders were offered some targeted supports by federal and provincial governments, but not the same resources as people who arrive with refugee designations.
Nova Scotia immigration program director Simone Le Gendre says that created a challenge for the province at the outset, since their usual guidelines didn’t apply.
Katie Crocker, the CEO of the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies, says there is also no information about when people are arriving, making it more difficult to connect them with services.
The program is set to stop taking new applicants on March 31, giving the government two weeks to decide whether to extend it.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 20, 2023.
