BC Gov News

Government is committed to making British Columbia a safe harbour, welcoming those fleeing war and violence in their own countries and supporting the integration of all newcomers to B.C.

Provincial supports

Funding:

• A one-time additional investment of $12 million to BC Settlement and Integration Services over two years to address existing and anticipated capacity pressures and increase service from 17,000 clients a year to more than 33,000 clients per year. Ukrainians arriving under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program are now eligible for BCSIS programs, in addition to refugee claimants and other vulnerable newcomers.
• A one-time $1-million investment to the Refugee Readiness Fund over two years to expand its scope to include displaced Ukrainians, in addition to the original focus on Afghan and other resettled refugees.
• A one-time $1-million investment to support community cultural organizations that are supporting displaced Ukrainians and other newly arrived refugees.
• $1 million to expand the bc211 support service and increase staffing.

Services:

• Supporting the United Way bc211 line to provide free, confidential and multilingual services, including in Ukrainian and Russian, and access to more than 15,500 community and social supports and programs 24 hours a day.
• Creating a Welcoming Ukraine (gov.bc.ca/WelcomingUkraine) web page to connect Ukrainians with support and helpful information as they settle in Canada. The website also serves as a portal for British Columbians that want to help make Ukrainians feel more at home.
• The BC Newcomers Guide is now available in Ukrainian and Russian: www.welcomebc.ca/Start-Your-Life-in-B-C/Newcomers-Guides?msclkid=6ebcea70c28811ec8c972ce4f961eea9
• Date-of-arrival access to Medical Service Plan (MSP) and PharmaCare coverage.
• Access to free employment services and supports through 102 WorkBC centres and a provincial job board with more than 49,000 job postings on WorkBC.ca.
• Enrolment for kindergarten to Grade 12 students in school and the ability for schools to provide supports for fees for extracurricular activities where financial support is needed.
• Access to domestic tuition at public post-secondary institutions, plus access to on-campus supports, including mental health, accommodation and financial assistance, such as emergency grants or tuition deferrals, as needed.
• Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program candidates are eligible to receive settlement services from any federally or provincially funded settlement service provider, ensuring there is no wrong door for getting help.
• Ukrainians with a CUAET visa can apply for hardship assistance from the B.C. government. Eligibility for hardship assistance is based on need.

Federal supports

• Under the new CUAET program, Ukrainians and their family members will be allowed to stay in Canada as temporary residents for as long as three years and Ukrainians will be allowed to apply for a three-year open work permit. The federal government has not put any limits on the number of people from Ukraine who are eligible to apply for a CUAET visa. When they do arrive, they may settle where they choose.
• The federal government has also extended its settlement services to temporary residents eligible under the CUAET.
• The federal government has announced six weeks of income support.

Learn More:  

For supports available to Ukrainians, or how to support Ukrainians arriving to B.C., visit the Welcoming Ukraine website: gov.bc.ca/WelcomingUkraine

BC Newcomers Guide: https://www.welcomebc.ca/Start-Your-Life-in-B-C/Newcomers-Guides

24-hour access to trained operators through bc211 via the Service BC line at: 1 800 663-7867

WelcomeBC Settlement Services: https://www.welcomebc.ca/Start-Your-Life-in-B-C/Settlement-Services

Assistance for Canadians in Ukraine: https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/issues_development-enjeux_developpement/response_conflict-reponse_conflits/crisis-crises/ukraine-assistance-aide.aspx?lang=eng

CUAET program: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures/cuaet.html

COVID-19 protocols for new arrivals: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/ukraine-measures/vaccination-exemption.html