Nearly 168,000 Ukrainians have found refuge in Canada over the past year. This country, home to the second largest diaspora after Russia, offers a three-year visa, a Canada-Ukraine emergency travel authorization. People who have fled the country at war receive emergency aid of 2,000 euros on arrival, followed by a monthly allowance. The organizations that host them, however, fear the end of this program which in theory ends on March 31. Report during a vigil of the Ukrainian community Friday evening in Quebec City.
With our correspondent in Quebec, Pascale Guericolas
“The heart is a bird. Anna Spirina translated into her native language “Le cœur est un oiseau”, a well-known song by Quebec artist Richard Desjardins. A way for her to highlight the ties between Quebec and the Ukrainians who have just arrived.
” The people there organize themselves, they welcome them, they help a lot, a lot, she says. There may be a lack of rental accommodation, but often, if there is no rental, people welcome them into families, it’s incredible. »
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” Canada will continue all that it must do in terms of military and humanitarian support »
In theory, the assistance program enjoyed by Ukrainians to come to Canada for three years ends on March 31. Jean-Yves Duclos, the Canadian Minister of Health, suggests that it could be extended.
” I wouldn’t be surprised if it continued. Because obviously, a year ago, we all hoped that this war would last a very short time, then, that Putin would quickly come to his senses. Obviously, this is not the case. So Canada will continue to have to do everything it has to do in terms of military and humanitarian support. »
Tonight, we join the vigil to underscore our solidarity with Ukraine.
The resilience and courage of Ukrainians will guide them to victory, and Canada will stand by#Ukraine until the end. ????
Slava Ukrainian! pic.twitter.com/fqc6LaYkcq
— Jean-Yves Duclos (@jyduclos) February 25, 2023
► To read also: With the delivery of armored vehicles, Canada is also participating in international aid to Ukraine
The small lights, which each participant holds in their hands, flicker in the icy wind. Like a hope that hesitates to assert itself after a year of war.