Residents of Canada who lost their documents because of the wildfires will be able to restore them for free
The national government has taken care of citizens and residents.
This year, Canada is facing unprecedented forest fires. It has been suggested that they may be the most large-scale in history, other countries have also faced their consequences, and the firefighters who fight the disaster day and night have rightly become the country's heroes. However, in addition to nature, wildfires have also affected ordinary people. Many have been displaced from their homes in the disaster zone. The Canadian government is doing all it can to help these people.
The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Sean Fraser, announced such help. Some Canadian citizens and residents have lost their identity documents because of the fires. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will help residents and visitors replace these documents.
The IRCC will allow citizens, permanent and temporary residents who have lost their identity documents due to the wildfires to restore identification documents for free. These include permanent resident cards, Canadian citizenship certificates, Canadian passports, and other travel documents that have been lost, damaged, or became inaccessible to their owners due to the wildfires.
Students from other countries and foreigners with temporary work permits who lost their documents because of the wildfires and whose status expires before September 30, 2023, are also eligible to apply for and receive a free replacement of the documents or extension of status. Moreover, international students whose studies were cancelled or suspended because of the fires can renew their study permits, wait for the school to reopen, and finish their studies without fear of being fined. Temporary work permit holders whose workplace was closed due to the fires have the right to remain in the country until the workplace reopens.
These measures will be in effect until September 30. The ministry hopes that residents who have lost their documents will be able to deal with priority issues first and will have enough time to restore their identity cards and documents that allow them to stay in Canada.
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