Sask. calls for visa process to be sped up amid backlog
Hundreds of Ukrainian immigrants have arrived in Saskatchewan over the last several months. For many of the new arrivals, emigrating from their home country was a decision that was quickly made.
Valentyn Stoliarchuk never imagined he would be living in Canada. On Feb. 24, he met a tourist from Regina by chance in Kyiv. Hours later, Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. Stolairchuk’s next decision was a quick one.
“I called him and said, ‘Okay, I need help. I would like to go to Canada. What would you recommend?’” he recalled.
Stoliarchuk left for Canada shortly afterward. His friend, Maria Chaikovska, fled to Poland with her family until Stoliarchuk invited her to join him in Canada.
“Wow Canada. No way. I never thought about it,” Chaikovska said, remembering the invitation.
“After a week I just thought, ‘Okay in Ukraine nobody knows when it should be finished and I need to find a job and I have studying. I have to do something.’”
The pair arrived in the first wave when emergency visas were quick to obtain. Now, about 190,000 visa applications are backed up in the Canadian immigration system.
According to Premier Scott Moe, the federal government needs to do better.
“I’ll ask again for the federal government to look at the expediency at which we are actually granting those visas," he said.
Saskatchewan has accepted about 1500 displaced Ukrainians so far. A study by the University of Calgary has concluded that the Visa process is taking too long and that Canada hasn’t accepted its fair share of the millions who have fled Ukraine.
Ottawa says progress has been made.
“Immigration can take a bit of time,” said Karina Gould, minister responsible for Service Canada.
“But I would say that you know from February to today we have seen tens of thousands of people arrive.”
The federal government has sponsored three flights bringing Ukrainians to Canada. Saskatchewan has committed to five.
Premier Moe has claimed Saskatchewan alone will soon outpace the federal government‘s effort at making flights available.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.