‘What will happen?’ Ukrainians in BC are worried about the end of federal funding
Home is a word that evokes a sense of safety and comfort but for Ukrainians in BC who are watching the destruction of their country, it causes great pain.
“It’s happening in many different ways with different crimes of war happening, with missile attacks, drone attacks,” Ukrainian Marko Zolotarov, who now lives in BC, told Global News.
As of 2022, more than one million Ukrainians have fled their country and come to Canada, with more than 200,000 settling in BC.
However, now they are facing chaos as they have found out that the funding is about to end.
“There is confusion and this fear of what will happen to us,” said Zolotarov.
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The government grant that provides essential programs and benefits to refugees will end on March 31.
This means that programs that help Ukrainians learn English or train them for jobs will now collide.
“They have 100s if not 1,000s of displaced Ukrainians right now who are getting services but they know they won’t be able to get them in a few months,” said Sarosh Rizvi, Executive Director of AMSSA, the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service. BC Institutions
“There’s no good system in place right now where you can outsource those services.”
Zolotarov said many Ukrainians still do not have enough points to apply for permanent citizenship.
“I think that’s the most important gap,” he said.
Right now, there are more questions than answers about how to fill that void.
“Most people getting services right now, more people getting services right now and the clock is ticking.” Rizvi said.
Ukrainians, watching the tragic destruction of their old home, wonder if they will ever be able to call Canada their new home.
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