April 16, 2022
Via The Globe and Mail: Canada is failing Ukrainians displaced by Russian invasion, former head of Doctors Without Borders says. BEHIND PAYWALL
Excerpt:
Ottawa needs to do more to help Ukrainian refugees navigate the complexities of paperwork and logistics to come to Canada, the former head of Doctors Without Borders says, lest it reprise past blunders.
“We know the failures in Afghanistan of not living up to our promises. And we cannot repeat history,” said Joanne Liu, a Montreal emergency physician who returned recently from three weeks in Ukraine, where she was struck by the warm reception to her Canadian passport.
Many in the country remember early Canadian promises to stand by Ukraine, making Canada “a place of promise, a place of hope,” Dr. Liu said. “We have to live up to our promise,” she added, pointing to bureaucratic obstacles Ukrainians must navigate before coming to Canada.
“We absolutely need to lift the red tape. For people who are seeking to come here, it’s not good enough to just say, ‘Well, we have extended the hours of our consulates.’ ”
For example, Ukrainians need better linguistic support to complete paperwork in an unfamiliar language, she said. “You have to facilitate it. That means you should staff better, you should have people who speak the language.”
In early March, the Canadian government said it was creating a telephone hotline as “a dedicated service channel for Ukraine immigration inquiries.” That line offers service in French and English only, and suggests anyone who speaks another language write in using a web form. The Globe and Mail called the number six times on Friday, but was not able to reach anyone. When The Globe selected an option for callers “regarding the situation in Ukraine,” the hotline hung up each time.
Global Affairs Canada referred questions to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
Ottawa needs to do more to help Ukrainian refugees navigate the complexities of paperwork and logistics to come to Canada, the former head of Doctors Without Borders says, lest it reprise past blunders.
“We know the failures in Afghanistan of not living up to our promises. And we cannot repeat history,” said Joanne Liu, a Montreal emergency physician who returned recently from three weeks in Ukraine, where she was struck by the warm reception to her Canadian passport.
Many in the country remember early Canadian promises to stand by Ukraine, making Canada “a place of promise, a place of hope,” Dr. Liu said. “We have to live up to our promise,” she added, pointing to bureaucratic obstacles Ukrainians must navigate before coming to Canada.
“We absolutely need to lift the red tape. For people who are seeking to come here, it’s not good enough to just say, ‘Well, we have extended the hours of our consulates.’ ”
For example, Ukrainians need better linguistic support to complete paperwork in an unfamiliar language, she said. “You have to facilitate it. That means you should staff better, you should have people who speak the language.”
In early March, the Canadian government said it was creating a telephone hotline as “a dedicated service channel for Ukraine immigration inquiries.” That line offers service in French and English only, and suggests anyone who speaks another language write in using a web form. The Globe and Mail called the number six times on Friday, but was not able to reach anyone. When The Globe selected an option for callers “regarding the situation in Ukraine,” the hotline hung up each time.
Global Affairs Canada referred questions to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.
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