Prime Minister Doug Ford announced today, Wednesday, a support package worth 300 million dollars for Ukrainian families planning to move to Ontario amid the Russian occupation of their homeland.

Ford announced this in Etobicoke, an area in the city densely populated with Canadian Ukrainians, and said he expects the province to receive more than 40,000 refugees in the coming months.
 

Ford also said, this is where I grew up, I was born here and I have many Ukrainian friends ... they have been very distinguished.

Wednesday's announcement includes free access to emergency housing in the province through settlement service agencies and Ukrainian community organizations.

 If necessary, Ford said families fleeing Ukraine can be housed in hotels until more long-term accommodations are provided.

Individuals and families can also access free OHIP coverage for healthcare services and mental health support they may need during their stay in the province, including trauma counseling.

 This health coverage will also extend to include drug benefits and emergency income assistance.

Ukrainian elementary and secondary school students will also be able to attend government-funded schools for free.

The funding also includes an announcement issued by the provincial government last month, which saw the launch of a dedicated job hotline for Ukrainians fleeing the war to fill in-demand jobs in Ontario. 

The hotline

 (1-888-562-4769 or ukrainianjobs@ontario.ca), which is now live, allows Ukrainians in the province to connect with job search support and local employers in the community.

On the other hand, Minister Monte McNaughton, who attended Wednesday's announcement, said more than 30,000 jobs are currently available and the government is working closely with businesses and unions to ensure these roles are filled.

Last month, the federal government announced the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) – a special measure allowing Ukrainians and their family members an extended free temporary stay in Canada to work, study, and live until it is safe for them to return home.

Ford also said it is unclear how many Ukrainians have arrived in Ontario so far, but he has heard anecdotal reports that many are staying with friends and family. 

He added that although the province expects to receive about 40,000 refugees, the support announced today can be expanded if necessary.

Ford said more than 375,000 people of Ukrainian descent live in Ontario – the largest number in Canada.

It is worth noting that since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has recorded 1,417 casualties in the country up to April 3.

The United Nations estimates that about 4.2 million Ukrainians have fled the country since the occupation began.