A federally chartered flight of Ukrainian refugees arrived at Montreal-Trudeau airport on Sunday morning.
• Read also: [EN DIRECT] 95th day of war in Ukraine: here are all the latest developments
• Read also: Ukraine: Zelensky travels to the east for the first time since the Russian invasion
The approximately 300 refugees were welcomed by representatives of the federal and provincial governments, including Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly.
“Welcoming these families to Montreal recalls the human repercussions of the war waged by [le président russe Vladimir] Putin, as well as Canada’s continued promise to provide temporary refuge to those in need,” Ms. Joly said.
The refugees were first sent to a secure area, where they were welcomed by members of Montreal’s Ukrainian community. They were then divided into smaller groups to receive assistance in completing all the paperwork necessary to clear customs and enter Canada.
Also present to welcome the refugees, the Minister of Labor Jean Boulet wanted to reassure the new arrivals and recalled that the Government of Quebec will be there to support them.
“These are families arriving in an environment that is totally foreign, with cultural and linguistic barriers. They will have to adapt to a new country and I was happy to welcome them on behalf of Quebeckers who are extremely happy to say to Ukrainians “feel at home, in Quebec”, “he said. he told TVA Nouvelles minutes after meeting the refugees at the airport
The City of Montreal indicated last Wednesday that it had set up a process through its Newcomer Integration Office (BINAM) to manage housing offers from Montreal families and to help refugees integrate into the metropolis.
“We know that sometimes when a crisis occurs, they have outbursts of generosity. The form is relatively exhaustive, we think that people who are not serious will quickly become discouraged,” explained Jessica Lagacé Banville, section head at BINAM.
A first charter flight has already brought 328 refugees to Winnipeg last Monday, while a third is expected in Halifax on June 2.
The federal government regularly reiterates its readiness to welcome thousands of Ukrainian refugees displaced by the war, but has drawn criticism for bureaucratic delays in the immigration process, not to mention the complexity for refugees. to come to Canada on their own.