Newfoundland helps Ukrainians living in the province with housing and jobs with $11 million in funding

Newfoundland and Labrador assists the province’s nearly 2,800 Ukrainians with housing and jobs with $11 million in spending.

“More than twice the number of Ukrainians we airlifted here are now in permanent housing and almost the same number are working, but we are not stopping there,” said Provincial Immigration Minister Gerry Byrne.

“If we want Ukrainians’ families to ‘root’ and become Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, we need to do more to give them access to the same generous support we enjoy.

“Today’s announcement of $11 million in employment and housing support, delivered in partnership with the Association for New Canadians, is a major step toward reaching that goal.”

Homeowners with vacant properties can register their homes with the Association for New Canadians by contacting [email protected] or 709-325-0881.

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Megan Morris, executive director of the Association for New Canadians, says the new funding will go a long way in supporting the settlement and employment goals of Ukrainians living in Newfoundland and Labrador.

The investment in the well-being of Ukrainians in Newfoundland and Labrador also includes employment support provided by Ukraine Job Connect.

With these new funds, Newfoundland and Labrador will provide housing and settlement for Ukrainians, including:

• a province-wide host family shelter program with approved host families receiving $1,000 per month for hosting Ukrainians for up to five months;
• assistance with relocation costs of $2,000 for Ukrainians leaving temporary accommodation and moving to rented accommodation in St. John’s and $4,000 for outside the county seat. Those who settle in Labrador get $6,000;
• a 3 million call for proposals for innovative housing projects for Ukrainians, including repurposing vacant properties, assistance with housing repair and maintenance, and co-housing initiatives;
• and expanding access to English conversation classes and English workplace support for Ukrainians.

Employers receive wage subsidies to employ Ukrainians in Newfoundland and Labrador

The province will bear the costs of:

• a 42-week wage subsidy of up to $12 per hour for eligible employers that covers 70 percent of wages for the first 14 weeks, 60 percent for the second 14 weeks, and 80 percent for the third 14 weeks;
• short-term training to fit into employment, including preparation for work in the construction, retail or hospitality industries;
• a job matching service;
• assistance with credential evaluation, language training and immigration, and;
• helping employers with location services and cultural competency training.

Job seekers interested in employment and training support can turn to this site web page For more information. Employers who want to use wage subsidies to hire employees or subsidies to train their employees can go here web page For more information.

Through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) route, Canada has already welcomed 156,280 Ukrainians fleeing their war-torn homeland. From March 15 last year through May 20 this year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) received 1,035,017 applications through CUAET and of those temporary residence visa applications, 729,970 were approved.

“It’s incredible when you see so many open hearts, open doors of the houses, many Canadians welcoming Ukrainian families in the first days and weeks after they arrived,” Yuliya Kovaliv, the Ukrainian ambassador to Canada, previously told ABC News.

CUAET has been extended to July 15

In March this year, Immigration Secretary Sean Fraser extended the CUAET trajectory until July 15 this year. So far there is no indication that immigration will extend it beyond that date.

According to that process, Ukrainians and their family members have until then time to apply for a free CUAET visa abroad. Those who already have a CUAET visa have until March 31 next year to travel to Canada under the special measures.

And those already in Canada on a CUAET visa have until March 31 next year to extend or amend their temporary status through these measures at no cost.

The army of Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February last year. Canada responded by opening its arms to Ukrainians on March 17, 2022 and introducing the CUAET trajectory

In April, Reuters reported that as many as 354,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers had been killed or wounded since the start of that war.

An assessment reportedly collected by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency shows that Russia had suffered a total of 189,500 to 223,000 casualties by that time, including 35,500 to 43,000 killed in action and 154,000 to 180,000 wounded.

Ukraine reportedly suffered a total of 124,500 to 131,000 casualties, including 15,500 to 17,500 killed in action and 109,000 to 113,500 wounded.

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“Settlement services will continue to be available to Ukrainians and their family members after they arrive so that they can fully participate in Canadian communities while they are here,” the IRCC notes on its website.

“Ukrainians and their dependents will also continue to benefit from the one-time financial transition support, as well as access to emergency shelter for up to two weeks if needed after they arrive in Canada.”

The CUAET trajectory was designed to allow those fleeing Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine to remain in Canada for up to three years and to qualify for free open work And study permits.

Ottawa increased the processing capacity of its immigration applications in Europe following the implementation of the CUAET trajectory and also sent mobile biometric kits to Warsaw, Vienna and Bucharest to take the fingerprints and portraits of prospective Ukrainian refugees in an effort to ensure proper safety precautions were taken with the surge in applications.

The government has also expanded its federal settlement programs to include language training, orientation, job search assistance and other support for Ukrainians settling in their new communities.

Federal government provides Ukrainians with financial assistance of $3,000 per adult

In addition to settlement services, Ukrainians fleeing to Canada are also being offered temporary financial aid of $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child.

“These funds will help Ukrainian nationals and their dependents meet their basic needs, such as transportation and longer-term housing, when they arrive in communities across Canada and find employment,” IRCC notes on its website.

“Settlement services will continue to be available to Ukrainians and their family members after they arrive, allowing them to fully participate in Canadian communities while here. Ukrainians and their family members will also continue to benefit from the one-time financial transition support, as well as access to emergency shelter for up to two weeks, if needed, after they arrive in Canada.”

Once CUAET stops taking applications from abroad in mid-July, Ukrainians wishing to come to Canada from abroad will still be able to apply for a visa or a work or study permit through the IRCC’s existing temporary resident programs, but are they are subject to fees and standard requirements.

Among the immigration measures announced for Ukrainians since the start of the Russia-Ukraine war are:

• a dedicated service channel for inquiries about Ukraine available to customers in both Canada and abroad at 613-321-4243, accepting collect calls. In addition, customers can add the keyword “Ukraine2022” to the IRCC web form with their query and their email will then be prioritized;
• urgent processing of travel documents, including the issuance of one-way travel documents for close relatives of Canadian citizens and permanent residents who do not hold valid passports;
• a renewed web page with up-to-date information about measures. This page contains content in Ukrainian for ease of reference;
• permission for Ukrainians currently in Canada to extend or extend their stay in Canada by prioritizing the renewal of work and study permits and expanding a policy that allows individuals to apply for work permits from Canada . This policy allows temporary residents who receive a job offer to remain in Canada and work while waiting for their work permit application to be processed, and;
• issuing outstanding work permits to Ukrainian visitors, workers and students who are currently in Canada and unable to return home so that they can stay longer if they wish. Retroactive to February 22 of last year, certain travel and immigration documents, such as Canadian passports, permanent resident travel documents, proof of citizenship, visitor visas, and work and study permits, are not subject to fees.