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House Hansard - 44

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
March 23, 2022 02:00PM
Context: House Hansard - 44 - Mar/23/22
Ms. Heather McPherson (Edmonton Strathcona, NDP)
  • Mar/23/22 2:52:06 p.m.
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Mr. Speaker, Ukrainians are fleeing horrific attacks in their country and they are vulnerable. They are seniors. They are mothers with children. The open work permit will not help these people because they may not be able to work. Mothers will need access to day care, and they will need money to pay for it. In many cases, they may not want to leave their children, who have been deeply traumatized. Canada must provide air and ground transportation to help Ukrainians get to Canada and then support them when they are here. This is urgent. Will the minister commit immediately to financial support for Ukrainians when they arrive in Canada?
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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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