Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announcing additional aid for displaced Ukrainians coming to the province during a news conference on Monday, July 4, 2022. (Government of Alberta)

By Justin Goulet

Province to provide temporary funding for displaced Ukrainians

Jul 4, 2022 | 11:05 AM

EDMONTON, AB – The provincial government is providing additional support to Ukrainians fleeing their home country to come to Alberta.

Premier Jason Kenney was at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village on Monday, July 4, 2022 to announce that starting July 25, 2022, Ukrainian evacuees arriving in Alberta from the war-torn country will be eligible for new forms of aid.

Kenney stated, “These additional measures include temporary financial assistance for up to six months to cover basic living expenses like food, clothing and rent.”

Displaced Ukrainians would receive the same benefit rates as other Albertans in similar financial situations, according to Kenney.

Additionally, if the evacuees have children 12 years or younger, they will be able to apply for six months of funding for child care through the Child Care Subsidy Program.

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Kenney noted that “with so many men staying in Ukraine to help defend the nation, we expect many arrivals will be single-parent families as we’ve experienced so far.”

Those looking to apply for child care funding must be Ukrainian nationals and must have a specially issued Alberta Health Care Card with an expiry date. The province noted that children must attend a licensed child care program in Alberta, be 12 years or younger and not yet be attending grade seven.

Minister of Children’s Services, Matt Jones said by assisting with the cost of child care for displaced Ukrainians, the province is, “ensuring their children will be safe and that families will have the help they need as they build a new life in our province.”

Orysia Boychuk, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council said, “We are grateful to Alberta’s government for the financial income support.”

“This is definitely an additional support that was not available to Ukrainian newcomers prior. Everything counts and this will definitely help contribute to the success of the Ukrainian nationals integrating successfully into Canadian society.”

More information on provincial supports available to displaced Ukrainians is available at the Government of Alberta website.