(Ottawa) Canada imposes new 35% tariffs on all imports from Russia and will supply new weapons to Ukraine. At the same time, the federal government is making two changes to its immigration programs to be able to quickly welcome Ukrainians fleeing their country.
Posted at 8:44 a.m.
Updated at 9:30 a.m.
A million of them have taken refuge in neighboring countries, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Ukrainians will be able to get permission to make an emergency trip to Canada and can stay for up to two years. However, this is not a complete lifting of the visa requirement as demanded by the Quebec Association of Immigration Lawyers and the three opposition parties in the House of Commons.
The federal government will also speed up the family reunification process. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser made the announcement Thursday at a news conference that also included Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland and National Defense Minister Anita Anand.
Military aid includes 4,500 rocket launchers, ammunition and high-resolution satellite imagery.