Senator Kutcher: There have also been concerns raised by the Canadian Immigrant Settlement Sector Alliance that the sheer numbers of displaced persons who have applied to come to Canada is such that the current settlement sector may not have capacity to provide the needed assistance for a successful integration. Is there a plan for the Government of Canada to introduce a cap to this program or to provide immediate additional financial support to immigrant-serving agencies across the country who are doing such good work to assist these newcomers to Canada?

Hon. Stan Kutcher: Honourable senators, my question is for Senator Gold.

Since Canada launched the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel program, over 200,000 displaced Ukrainians have applied for entry to Canada, about 90,000 applications have been approved and about 500 arrive daily. I am concerned that post-arrival success for those who are making their way here may be jeopardized by inadequate support provided to them after they arrive.

Specifically, I am concerned about three issues. First, the cost of medical examinations is about $450 per adult, quite the amount for a person fleeing their home with not much more than they can carry. Without this examination, they cannot apply for a work permit. Second, currently, displaced Ukrainians arriving with children do not have immediate access to the Canada Child Benefit, which is available to other refugee populations. And finally, it is still unclear what the federal income support that the Prime Minister announced on April 9, 2022, will actually be, both in amount and duration.

What is the federal government doing to address these time-sensitive financial issues, and when will they be doing this?