Ukrainian refugees coming to Alberta will have increased assistance in settling in the province.
The Government of Alberta will provide an additional $2.1 million in Budget 2023, if passed, for pre-arrival service supports. The government will also implement a Ukrainian Help Line to streamline information and resources.
“Our government is committed to helping the thousands of Ukrainians seeking refuge here,” said Premier Danielle Smith in a release.
“Thanks to the efforts of so many tireless volunteers in addition to work by our government, Ukrainian newcomers have access to numerous resources available to them to integrate into communities across Alberta smoothly and successfully.”
Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Alberta has welcomed 26,572 Ukrainians. More than $28 million has been directed towards supports and services to help evacuees resettle.
The additional funding builds on that, and will be put towards measures recommended by the Premier’s Advisory Task Force on Ukraine.
“The task force has done crucial work in uncovering gaps in supports for Ukrainian evacuees. It also ensured we are providing support where it will have the biggest impact,” said Rajan Sawhney, minister of trade, immigration, and multiculturalism.
“As a government, we have a responsibility to get this right for these evacuees, and the advice from the task force is ensuring we do.”
Help line for Ukrainian refugees
The creation of a help line is one such recommendation from the advisory task force. According to the group, Ukrainian nationals were having trouble navigating complex programming and applications. The help line will ensure Ukrainian evacuees and organizations serving them can get timely, accurate information in the language they are most comfortable with.
Ongoing supports
Other previously announced Budget 2023 supports for Ukrainian evacuees also reflect task force input and include:
- $7 million over three years for settlement and language supports to help agencies and immigrant-serving organizations meet increased service demand.
- $9.9 million for social housing and rent supplement programs, through Alberta’s Rent Supplement Program, to address growing waitlists and support Ukrainian newcomers eligible for these programs. This is on top of the additional $6.8 million made available in late 2022-23.
- $3.6 million to support emergency and ongoing financial benefits similar to those provided through the Income Support program. In addition, the Evacuee Emergency Financial Support and Benefits program, launched in March 2022 to provide emergency benefits for Ukrainian evacuees, will be extended to January 2024 to ensure both new and existing applicants can receive emergency or ongoing financial benefits.
- $1.5 million, through the new Ukrainian Student Benefit, for post-secondary institutions to continue providing financial supports for Ukrainian newcomer students. Eligibility for Alberta apprenticeship education programs has also been expanded to allow Ukrainian temporary residents to participate.
- $12,000 in funding to the Red Deer Public Library to help Ukrainian newcomers learning English as an Additional Language.
Alberta’s government will continue to work with immigrant-serving and community organizations to identify supports needed, as well as ensure supports complement any federal government services. Alberta also continues to work with other provinces and territories to lobby the federal government to provide additional support for Ukrainian evacuees and announce plans to address the future of the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program in 2023 and beyond.
Alberta’s government will continue to prioritize the assessment of permanent residency applications by Ukrainian nationals through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program. Candidates must still meet all program criteria.
Budget 2023 secures Alberta’s future by transforming the health-care system to meet people’s needs, supporting Albertans with the high cost of living, keeping our communities safe and driving the economy with more jobs, quality education and continued diversification.
Red Deer-North constituents with questions, concerns or comments can reach out to the local constituency office via the form on the contact page or by phoning (403) 342–2263.