Fifth flight of displaced Ukrainians set to touch down in Regina
A fifth and final flight of displaced Ukrainians will arrive in Saskatchewan on March 27, according to the province.
The series of flights marks the largest humanitarian effort organized by the Government of Saskatchewan in recent years, bringing refugees to Canada from war-torn Ukraine.
In August of 2022, the province signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Argentinian aircraft owner Enrique Pineyro to bring a total of five flights to Saskatchewan by the end of March.
Pineyro, along with his Solidaire organization, has covered the $2.5 million cost of flying 1,100 Ukrainians to the province.
Pineyro has personally flown 3,000 Ukrainians to safety to destinations in Italy, Spain, and Canada.
“[We’re] just very grateful to our partners as well, Solidaire and Open Arms, who we have worked with very closely on this,” Minister of Immigration, Jeremy Harrison told CTV News.
“Of course the government of Ukraine have been involved in this as well.”
Pineyro recently returned from Kyiv where he toured neighbourhoods damaged by the ongoing war, now in its 13th month.
While in Ukraine, he also discussed how to get people home following the war.
“We can just load them and bring them back,” Pineyro said in a video posted to Twitter.
Families that have arrived in Saskatchewan have been issued three year emergency visas.
Some may apply to stay in the land of living skies. However, the Ukrainian government expects most to return after the war to help rebuild the nation.
The flight is expected to arrive at the Regina International Airport at about 3:30 p.m. on Monday.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.