Dozens of people have volunteered to welcome Ukrainians to their homes in the Laurentians. Eager to help those fleeing the war, they are still waiting for the charter flights promised by the federal government.
Posted at 5:00 a.m.
“We have 60 families who have asked to welcome Ukrainians into their homes,” says Line Chaloux, director of COFFRET, a reception and integration organization for immigrants in Saint-Jérôme. “The mobilization in the Laurentians is magnificent, there we have 260 volunteers who wish to collaborate,” she adds.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE BOX
Line Chaloux and Claude Deschênes, respectively director and volunteer coordinator of COFFRET, a reception and integration organization for immigrants in Saint-Jérôme
But more than two months after the beginning of the conflict caused by the Russian invasion, the Ukrainians are “arriving in dribs and drabs” in Quebec, according to Claude Deschênes, volunteer coordinator at COFFRET. Those who have already arrived have done so on their own or with the help of people they already knew, often through social media, he suggests.
Louise Boulet, from Val-David, is one of those who volunteered to welcome a Ukrainian family fleeing the war. People from the COFFRET went to her house a few weeks ago.
[Des gens du COFFRET] came to assess my house, they came to assess me, because well, to welcome people in this situation, you have to know what you are getting into. But there, nothing has moved since that time.
Louise Boulet
“We are waiting for the Ministry of Immigration to ensure that there are arrivals. So we’re still waiting for them, it’s not our responsibility,” says Mr. Deschênes, resigned. He understands the frustration of people who want to help, “but at least when they arrive, we will be ready,” he says.
It’s “because they don’t have the money to buy the plane tickets”, explains Mr.me Chaloux. “If there were charter flights, they would arrive. »
Details ‘coming soon’, says Ottawa
Ottawa has promised charter flight options for anyone who has been approved under the Canada-Ukraine Emergency Travel Authorization (AVUCU). Federal Immigration Minister Sean Fraser also announced the launch of a fund to finance Ukrainian air travel in April.
However, it is impossible to know when these initiatives will see the light of day. “Details on how eligible Ukrainians and their families can access the program will be available soon,” a spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada simply said by email Tuesday.
PHOTO ADRIAN WYLD, THE CANADIAN PRESS ARCHIVES
Omar Alghabra, Federal Minister of Transport
Federal Transport Minister Omar Alghabra admitted on Thursday that it is proving more difficult than expected to organize these flights. Some Ukrainians are no longer where they were when they applied for their visa, making it harder to arrange air travel.
More than five million Ukrainians have fled their country to other parts of Europe since Russia launched its invasion on February 24.
In the meantime, Louise Boulet wonders if she should not go about it other than through official channels to welcome Ukrainians. “I live in Val-David, but if I lived in Montreal, I would show up at the airport the day a plane arrives from Warsaw,” she says. We also don’t want there to be people who find themselves without resources and then without help when they land here when we are ready to help them. »
With The Canadian Press