Ukraine Information (2022)

Ukrainian Arrivals: Basic Information

Many families, community agencies, and concerned Canadians are hoping to be able to support the people of Ukraine. The situation is evolving quickly, and processes are changing all the time. This document hopes to offer clarity about how Ukrainians are currently able to come to Canada, and what they can access when they get here.

Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET)

• Currently, people are able to flee from Ukraine to Canada using the CUAET. This grants the families the right to live in Canada for three years.

• Applicants under the CUAET can also work in Canada for three years if they apply for a work permit, or study in Canada as a child or a university student if they apply for a study permit. These processes are available, but not automatic. CUAET grants the right to live in Canada, and work/study must be applied for in addition to the CUAET.

• Please click here to access the Government of Canada website about CUAET. Processes are changing often, so check back frequently: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2022/03/canada-ukraine-authorization-for-emergency-travel.html

Refugee Status

• One of the big challenges facing Ukrainian arrivals is that they are functionally refugees—fleeing to safety in another country—but legally they have not been designated as such. Being categorized as a refugee is a complex process governed by the United Nations and can take as a long as a year. CUAET is letting Ukrainians threatened by war escape quickly, but without refugee status.

• Fortunately, as of March 28, 2022, federally funded settlement services (like Action for Healthy Communities) are able to provide support to Ukrainian evacuees as though they were refugees. This does not apply to all government services, however; please see below for more information.

Types of Refugees

In Canada, there are two kinds of refugees: Government-Sponsored and Privately Sponsored.

1. · Government Sponsored Refugees, as the name might suggest, are financially supported by the Government of Canada.

• They are selected to go to Canada on the basis of greatest need even within a refugee crisis-- for example, Canada brought many members of the persecuted Yazidi minority to Canada during ISIS' siege of Syria and Iraq.

• GSRs receive full financial support from the federal government for the first year, but a family cannot "pick" which refugees come to Canada.
  

2. Privately Sponsored Refugees are exactly that-- refugees eligible to come to Canada because an existing family or organization has opted to bring them to Canada.

• Their needs must be covered by the sponsoring entity; essentially, they must be able to demonstrate that they can fully financially support the family. Oftentimes, churches and other civil society groups have supported this (Group of Five Sponsorship.)

• This option may eventually be available to support Ukrainians, but is not available yet.

What does this mean?

• Families sponsoring/caring for their own members will receive very few financial resources from the Government of Canada or the Government of Alberta.

• The government's expectation is that Canadians will care for their own family members that they bring from Ukraine.

• Families supporting Ukrainian families will need to find housing, support pharmaceutical/dental care, and meet other basic needs. They cannot dip into public resources.

• However, settlement services will be available for free through Action for Healthy Communities and other federally-funded settlement agencies.

Universal services, such as healthcare, will be available. Instructions about how to receive a health card are later in this document.

How to Get Health Care

The Government of Alberta recommends the following steps to support Ukrainians in getting their Alberta Health Card:

1. Apply for an Alberta Identification Card or Driver’s Licence at the registry office. This will significantly expedite the approval time.

2. Complete an application form at the following link:

a. cfr.forms.gov.ab.ca/Form/AHC0102.pdf

b. Note: this link is challenging to use on some computers. If you need the printable document, please email lisa.degara@a4hc.ca

3. Photocopy your Driver’s Licence or other ID.

4. Mail the photocopies and the form to this address:

Alberta Health

PO Box 1360

Station A

Edmonton, Alberta

T5J 2N3

If you have questions, you can send an email to evacueehealthregistration@gov.ab.ca

Other Available Services

• As of June 1, Ukrainian parents can apply for funding to cover the cost of licensed child care, through the Child Care Subsidy Program. Eligible child care programs include: daycare, preschool, out-of-school care, or a day home provider through a licensed family day home agency. Currently, displaced Ukrainians can apply up until March 31, 2023 to receive subsidy for 6 months.

  • • Learn more here: https://www.alberta.ca/support-for-ukrainians.aspx

• Ukrainians on CUAET can access $3,000 per adult and $1,500 per child from the Government of Canada.

  • • Learn about the application here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures/settlement/get-financial-assistance.html

• As of July 25, 2022, Ukrainians are eligible for Alberta Income Support. However, Alberta Income Support has very strict guidelines. Applicants must be able to demonstrate, with documented proof, that they cannot meet their basic needs (housing, food) AND that they have exhausted all other sources of funding.

  • • If a Ukrainian family is staying with a host family, the host family's income is likely to impact their eligibility.

    • Learn more about eligibility for Alberta Income Support here: https://www.alberta.ca/income-support-eligibility.aspx

To learn more, visit our main website:

• https://a4hc.ca/

Action for Healthy Communities is paid for by the Government of Canada.