The province of Ontario announced specific measures to help Ukrainians
They are guaranteed health insurance and financial support.
On April 6, 2022, the government of the province of Ontario announced a package of support measures for Ukrainian citizens coming to Canada under the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel. A special hotline for Ukrainians was also opened: 1-888-562-4769.
What is included in the support package?
- Ontario Health Insurance Program — OHIP.
- Access to medications under OHIP or in case of an emergency.
- Temporary housing, which is organized by provincial social services or Ukrainian public organizations.
- Free admission to elementary and middle school.
- An investment of $449,000 CAD in Canadian-Ukrainian NGOs to provide psychological support for Ukrainians.
- Establishing a provincial scholarship for Ukrainian students, for which the Ontario government provides $1.9 million CAD.
- Financial support in the range of $28,000 CAD to those who apply for the Second Career Program.
The Second Career Program helps those who were laid off during the pandemic retrain and find jobs. The province pays for tuition and transportation. A basic living allowance is also available, but no more than $500 CAD per week. To participate in the program, you must provide proof that you have been looking for work for some time, but have been consistently rejected. Applications from people with a high school education who have worked in industries severely affected by the pandemic were considered first. What criteria will be used to select Ukrainians for retraining is not known yet.
The Ontario government emphasizes in its official statement that it expects Ukrainians who qualify under the provincial immigration program and are willing to apply for a provincial nomination.
