The Ukrainian Family Support Desk initiative of the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is expanding to offer in-person, expedited support for Ukrainians seeking temporary safe-haven and permanent resettlement in the province.
Staff of the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism will travel to Poland to undertake direct outreach to some of the roughly three million people fleeing Ukraine and who may be looking for information on coming to Newfoundland and Labrador. The team will be based out of Warsaw primarily, and may undertake site visits to other cities where impacted individuals are currently being temporarily housed. The scope of services includes:
- Hosting information sessions about immigration programs and support services offered by Newfoundland and Labrador;
- Connecting Ukrainians looking for jobs with Newfoundland and Labrador employers; and,
- Prioritizing immigration nomination applications from individuals impacted by the war in Ukraine.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is also issuing a call for volunteers and local employers who have job opportunities to contact the support desk. This will enable the creation of an inventory of local volunteers and jobs, which will strengthen the on-the-ground supports being offered to Ukrainians currently in Poland.
The contact email for the Ukrainian Family Support Desk is UkrainianFamily@gov.nl.ca. For information on the options available to assist Ukrainian relatives and families, see the backgrounder below.
Staff members at the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism continue to work with anyone looking to assist family displaced by conflict. Any person can contact the office at any time using the general email immigration@gov.nl.ca.
Expansion of the Ukrainian Family Support Desk builds on this innovative approach to providing humanitarian and immigration services to the people of Ukraine; an action that has been lauded by the Government of Canada as being a new service model that has the potential to be adopted by other Canadian provinces.
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador continues to work closely with the Federal Government on all matters related to immigration, and will be engaging with local embassy officials while on the ground.
Quotes
“Once again, conflict is occurring in a land far from our shores. Once again, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are answering the call to assist, on many fronts. We all want to help; we are all family. By taking the Ukrainian Family Support Desk to Poland, our staff, who themselves have strong roots in the region, are taking our collective wish to help – where the help is most needed.”
Honourable Andrew Furey
Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador
“Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and people across North America are telling us that the Ukrainian Family Support Desk is absolutely essential to helping Ukrainians in their time of need. We will fulfill our duty of citizenship. We will support democracy in the fight against tyranny. We stand with Ukraine.”
Honourable Gerry Byrne
Minister of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
– 30 –
Learn more
Follow us on Twitter @GovNL and @IPGS_GovNL
Like us on Facebook
Media contacts
Meghan McCabe
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
meghanmccabe@gov.nl.ca
Jeremy Reynolds
Immigration, Population Growth and Skills
709-729-2377, 709-691-2298
jeremyreynolds@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
Information on Ukrainian Family Support Desk Initiatives
Refugee status in Canada is determined by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Government of Canada. Transportation to Canada and settlement supports are provided for Government-Assisted Refugees by the Government of Canada. For details on the UNHCR’s work in Ukraine, please visit UNHCR Ukraine and see a news release from March 1, 2022.
To assist individuals to bring Ukrainian relatives and families to the province, at present the following options are available.
Provincial Jurisdiction
Provincial Nominee Program / Atlantic Immigration Program – Employers in Newfoundland and Labrador who are experiencing labour shortages and who have been unable to find qualified local workers may avail of provincial immigration pathways (Provincial Nominee Program and the Atlantic Immigration Program) to bring workers from abroad.
Federal Jurisdiction
Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel – The Government of Canada is preparing to launch a new process for Ukrainians who want to come to Canada temporarily: the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel. This program is expected to launch in the coming days. There will be no limit to the number of Ukrainians who can apply. This will be the fastest, safest, and most efficient way for Ukrainians to come to Canada and eliminates many of the normal visa requirements. All Ukrainian nationals will be able to apply through this new path, and, pending background check and security screening, their stay in Canada could be extended by at least 2 years.
Visitor Visa – Individuals abroad who have family in Newfoundland and Labrador and wish to visit for a short period of time can pursue the visitor visa option.
Family Sponsorship – This pathway, fully administered by the Government of Canada, helps individuals bring family to Canada, through a sponsorship application process.
For more information on how the Government of Canada is assisting Ukrainians, please see Immigration measures for people affected by the invasion of Ukraine.