This month, the New Brunswick government rented a plane to carry 170 Ukrainians fleeing the war.
At the airport, the tearful reunions and welcome hugs seemed the same, but despite having traveled to find safety, these newcomers to Canada are not considered refugees.
In March, the federal government created a special program that accelerates immigration for Ukrainians. The resulting program, called the Canada-Ukraine Emergency Travel Authorization, is different from any other program to date.
People who enter through this program are considered temporary residents. This means they can work and study in Canada for three years. However, unlike refugees, they do not have permanent residence when they arrive, do not receive provincial social assistance, would have to pay international student fees if they want to go to university, and at first had no support for the establishment.
Moncef Lakouas, chairman of the New Brunswick Multicultural Council, said the government’s decision to do so confuses him. He said the barriers involved in being a temporary resident could make installation difficult.
“I ask this question every day … What is the difference between what is happening in Ukraine against Syria and Afghanistan? Well, they are not being prosecuted by their own government, but there is still a bomb that will fall.”
Moncef Lakouas, chairman of the New Brunswick Multicultural Council, says that because the new program is based on a program designed for temporary workers, the government has had to adjust and make exceptions to accommodate the needs of people fleeing the war. (Submitted by Moncef Lakouas)
The answer is from the Ukrainian community, according to the office of the Federal Minister of Immigration.
Aidan Strickland, press secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship of Canada, said refugee status is permanent and that the Ukrainian community wanted a temporary solution.
If a refugee returns to his country after settling in Canada, his status would be revoked, he said.
Ukrainians arriving in Canada with this program can travel freely and, after three years, can apply for permanent residency.
“In talks with the Ukrainian community, specifically with the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress, they made it clear that many of the Ukrainians who will come to Canada will want to return home when it is safe to do so,” he said.
“Because they really feel like it will be an option for them, they feel that they will be able to win this war and they feel that in a couple of years they will be able to come back.”
The refugee process also takes longer, he said.
“Initiatives in Afghanistan and Syria can take years to implement,” he said.
“I’m in favor of this program”
Ivan Zakharenkov, president of the Ukrainian Association of St. John, came to Canada from Ukraine 20 years ago and welcomes three families who have arrived this month through the new program.
He said it is not correct to say that all Ukrainians in New Brunswick have the same opinion on this issue, but he personally believes that the temporary arrangement works.
“I don’t think the Ukrainians, at least the ones I’ve talked to who are thinking of moving to Canada, want this situation of‘ never going back ’,” he said. “But they also want to have a chance in this country.
“I’m in favor of this program.”
He said people who cannot work immediately, have no command of English, have many children and have no savings may need support that includes a refugee program. This new program makes it easier and faster for people who don’t need these supports to come to Canada, he said.
Strickland said Ukrainians applying through the accelerated program do not have to meet any specific goal of work experience, language or education to be approved.
“People are still subject to security control,” he said.
Since the program was introduced, some changes have been made to address the issues involved in being a temporary resident, Strickland said. The federal government created an exception that allowed Ukrainian newcomers access to settlement services such as language classes.
At first they did not receive any financial assistance either, but later the program was changed to offer a one-time check for $ 3,000 for adults and $ 1,500 for children. People arriving on charter flights can also get accommodation for 14 days until they find a new home.
Ukrainian newcomers arriving on chartered planes do not receive the assistance offered to refugees, but they also do not have to follow some rules required of refugees. (Radio-Canada)
On the provincial side, immigration department spokesman David Kelley said the province contributes funds to settlement agencies.
“In case people need more services, the government is willing to consider assistance options,” he said.
Opportunities New Brunswick also connects newcomers with employers, he said.
Zakharenkov said 7.7 million Ukrainians have left the country and are distributed throughout Europe. About 200,000 of them filled out the application to get to Canada through this program.
He said that if he could give any advice to Ukrainians considering coming to Canada, it is not to underestimate how big a movement it is, even if it is temporary.
“A rocket landed today two blocks from my aunt and my uncle. And they’re still thinking this is going to be over in a couple of days or a couple of weeks,” he said.
“The decision to move to Canada is permanent, with the opportunity in the future to return to your country whenever you want when things are settled. I think immigration in this particular program allows you to do that, but you need make a firm decision to settle in this new country. “