Newfoundland and Labrador has decided to double down on welcoming Ukrainian refugees by creating an office directly in Poland to help them find temporary refuge and then settle permanently in the province.
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This initiative is therefore a first in Canada and could be followed by other provinces.
Mainly based in Warsaw, the Office of Immigration and Multiculturalism will thus be able to hold information sessions on immigration programs or even help put Ukrainians in contact with employers in the Atlantic Province.
“Once again, Newfoundlanders and Labradorians are answering the call for help, on many fronts. We all want to help; we are all a family. By taking the Ukrainian Family Support Office to Poland, our staff, who themselves have strong roots in the region, are realizing our collective desire to help – where help is most needed,” the Premier of the province, Andrew Furey.
A call for volunteers and local employers has also been launched by the government to strengthen support on the ground.
Newfoundland and Labrador also works with the federal government on immigration issues.