SoVote

Hon. Sean Fraser (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.)

Mar/23/22 2:51:26 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her sincere concern for the well-being of those who are fleeing the unimaginable circumstances in Ukraine. We have now seen more than 10,000 Ukrainians arrive in Canada since the beginning of this calendar year, and we are going to continue to do more to promote and facilitate the safe transport of people to Canada as quickly as possible. With respect to outdated travel documents, we contemplated this possibility during the program design, and we are working to issue single journey travel documents for those who do not have a valid passport. I will be pleased to continue to work with any member of this House who identifies problems along the way because, as this system develops for the first time, we want to make sure it continues to operate smoothly to welcome as many people here as quickly as possible.

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Context: House Hansard - 44 - Mar/23/22

Hon. Sean Fraser (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.)

Mar/23/22 2:52:52 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for her advocacy for the well-being of those fleeing Ukraine. With respect to her point regarding the open work permit, I would like to point out that nearly 80% of those who have applied to come through the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel have also applied for the open work permit, which we have made them eligible for. With respect to supports for people to get here and once they land, we are working right now with non-profit partners, private sector donors and airlines to sort out some of the very issues she raised in her question. We are working around the clock across ministries, with partners, with provincial jurisdictions, and on the ground in Canadian communities, so we can maximize the extraordinary goodwill we are seeing coming from Canadians who want to do their part.

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Context: House Hansard - 44 - Mar/23/22

Hon. Sean Fraser (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.)

Mar/23/22 2:59:59 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Canada will provide a safe haven for those who are fleeing Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Canada has welcomed nearly 10,000 Ukrainians since January. Last week, we launched the new Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel to make it easier for Ukrainians to safely come to Canada. We are going to continue to work not only to give them permission to apply to Canada but also to do what we can to facilitate their arrival. We are having conversations in real time with private sector players, provinces and territories, and others who could facilitate their arrival in Canada as quickly as possible. I am going to continue my work on this file until we see additional Ukrainians come, beyond the 10,000 who have already arrived.

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Context: House Hansard - 44 - Mar/23/22

Hon. Sean Fraser (Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Lib.)

Mar/23/22 3:01:13 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, I would dare suggest that it is not a hollow answer to the 10,000 Ukrainians who are already in Canada or the tens of thousands more who have applied or who will be welcomed to Canada in the future. We are having these conversations in real time, including with airlines, including with provinces and territories, including with private sector contributors, including with service providers on the ground. We will work every day to do everything we can to help the people who are fleeing this war. It is the just and honourable thing to do when we are dealing with such a war of aggression. Canada will play its part, including by welcoming as many Ukrainians who are fleeing this war of aggression as possible.

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