Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announcing more supports for Ukrainians on Wednesday, April 20 2022. (Government of Alberta)

By Justin Goulet

Province announces over $2 million to support Ukrainians arriving in Alberta

Apr 20, 2022 | 11:25 AM

ST. ALBERT, AB – The provincial government is providing a wealth of supports to Ukrainians who are fleeing their home country and settling in Alberta as the Russian invasion continues.

Premier Jason Kenney announced on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 an investment of more than $2 million in rapid settlement supports to ensure the move to Alberta is made as smooth as possible.

He stated that, “people fleeing their country, having left everything behind, who often will arrive here not speaking English and sometimes having no relatives or friends, are in significant need of immediate and comprehensive support so that they can begin to live secure lives here but also cope with trauma and other challenges they bring with them from the conflict.”

The province has previously donated over $5 million to humanitarian efforts to aid those displaced from their homes in Ukraine and those remaining in the war-torn country.

Kenney said, “Alberta has demonstrated, I think more than any other Canadian province, the depth of our solidarity with Ukraine.”

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The Premier said as part of Wednesday’s funding, the province will be providing immediate health coverage to Ukrainians arriving in Alberta through federal relief program.

He noted, “we will be immediately offering enrolment in K to 12 schools in their new communities to ensure continued education and access language learner programs if necessary.”

“We will be providing for an Alberta identification card, including a driver’s license to access important services and supports like healthcare and banking services. We’ll be providing for licensed childcare programs in communities that work best for Ukrainian families who arrive here.”

The Alberta government will also provide access to organizations that can help refugees find work.

Kenney added, “in the federal program that these individuals are arriving in, they do have an automatic open work permit to enable them to work legally.”

The province will also be providing access to community adult learning programs “to improve financial and literacy skills, including English as an additional language”.

A reference guide will be available through the province’s website, in both English and Ukrainians, with information on various resources and supports to help those arriving in Alberta.

Kenney said, “we’ll be taking other additional steps, but we wanted to look at the full spectrum of government programs to ensure rapid access because these individuals have already faced enough adversity in recent weeks, and we need to be there to support them.”

“These are, all together, each of them, relatively small steps but important measures to ensure that as soon as Ukrainian displaced persons arrive, they’re provided with a full spectrum of government and social support and as I say, we’ll be continuing to work with the community on providing other support as necessary.”

Wednesday’s announcement can be viewed below.