The Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel (CUAET) is set to expire at the end of this month, which has granted Ukrainians and their families “free, extended temporary status and allows them to work, study and stay in Canada.”
The program has been in place for two years and has been a primary reason why Canada and Prince George have seen many Ukrainians displaced by the war settle here.
Those who have arrived in Canada and would like to stay are being offered a special “permanent resident pathway” to expedite that process.
With the looming CUAET expiration date, Prince George is experiencing one, likely final, surge of Ukrainians arriving in the area from other parts of the world.
Dick Mynen, a Share Hope volunteer who has helped to settle hundreds of Ukrainians in Prince George and the surrounding area in the last two years, said he expects the CUAET deadline to “have a dramatic effect on arrivals – so dramatic we don’t think we will see any new arrivals coming after that who are looking to settle here.”
Ukrainians, like any other country, can still apply to live and work in Canada once CUAET expires.
Mynen said the March arrival numbers have been fluctuating, currently the organization is expecting 23 new people in Prince George – though at one point that number was 38.
“That could change. There is still two weeks to go and we often have our last minute news of an impending arrival, but we don’t think we will see too much change,” he said.
These last arrivals would push the total number of Ukrainians that Share Hope and PG For Ukraine have helped settle in the region to just over 350, and 306 specifically settled in Prince George.
“That being said, we think there are probably over 500 settled in Northern BC,” Mynen said, explaining Share Hope did not help every person who arrived in the area. “The largest number have made Prince George their new home, whether that is long-term or temporary.”
Some Ukrainians who started their time in Canada in Prince George have also moved on to other parts of the country.
While new arrivals will severely taper off in April and beyond, Mynen said the work for Share Hope will remain busy.
He explained Share Hope will still “support the people that are still here – just because they are here does not mean they are out of the woods, there is lots of challenges to settlement… and we anticipate others will come from other locations around Canada. We have had enquiries of late.”
Three specific needs Mynen said Ukrainians in Prince George need now are:
- Mental Health Supports
- English Language Supports / lessons
- and helping people find jobs
“Those are our three main areas where we are looking to gather community supports, volunteer opportunities, and collaborations with other community agencies,” he said.
Thanking the community, Mynen said “We have surpassed our two year mark… there are still lots of adjustments going on but as a whole we can tip our hat to the community for being such a welcoming and caring place.”