Province Helping Ukrainians Continue Their Lives in Ontario
Premier's Office
2022-04-06 10:45:00

The Ontario government is launching a suite of services and supports for Ukrainians arriving to the province in order to help them integrate and succeed in the province.

Helping to Connect Ukrainian Newcomers with Jobs

A dedicated hotline and email address have been launched to help Ukrainian newcomers connect with job search supports and employers in the community. If they need help finding employment in Ontario, or if employers are interested in hiring a Ukrainian newcomer, they can call 1-888-562-4769 or email ukrainianjobs@ontario.ca.

From there, they will be referred to an Employment Ontario service provider that can help make the appropriate connections. The hotline can provide support in languages other than French and English, including Ukrainian.

Ontario is supporting eligible Ukrainians who may need to upgrade their skills or find good jobs in Ontario through the full suite of Employment Ontario programs including, the Skills Development Fund and Second Career.

Providing Ukrainian Newcomers with Health care

The province is ensuring individuals who have been granted an emergency authorization to come to or remain in Canada for humanitarian reasons, including those in Ontario under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), have access to the provincial health care supports and services they may need, including mental health services.

As part of our support, Ontario is taking action so that eligible Ukrainians will also have access to publicly funded prescription drugs.

Ontario is working with health care partners, including hospitals and community providers, to ensure that Ukrainians arriving in our province, including children, seniors and people with urgent medical needs are able to receive the health care they may need when they need it.

Access to Primary and Secondary Education and Education Supports

To guarantee elementary and secondary school students arriving in the province can attend publicly funded schools, the government has amended a regulation under the Education Act to ensure students who have been granted an emergency authorization to come to or remain in Canada for humanitarian reasons, including those in Ontario under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), do not have to pay fees to attend school in the 2021-22 and 2022-23 school years.

As part of the province’s effort to help students, staff, and families impacted by the war, the Ministry of Education is providing $50,000, to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Toronto Branch, to deliver trauma-informed counselling to students and families through individual and group therapy sessions, and to develop culturally responsive educator toolkits to help teachers and school staff support students.

Also, $399,000 in funding is being provided to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation, to support the delivery of their Holodomor National Awareness Tour that seeks to promote intercultural understanding and awareness to students and the public through sharing the stories and history of Ukrainian Canadians and Ukrainians abroad.

Helping Ukrainian Newcomers in Financial Need

To support Ukrainians coming to Canada and arriving in Ontario, the province has taken steps to ensure people who have emergency authorization to be in Canada for humanitarian purposes are able to access Emergency Assistance.

Helping Ukrainian Students in Postsecondary Education

The province is creating a $1.9 million “Ontario-Ukraine Solidarity Scholarship” to support persons in Ontario’s publicly assisted colleges and universities. The scholarship will be awarded to individual students through their college or university based on merit and financial need beginning in September 2022.

Supporting Ukrainian Newcomers through Settlement Services

Ontario funds more than 150 organizations across the province that deliver a range of newcomer supports, including settlement services, language training and targeted employment programs. Through settlement agencies newcomers are supported with a range of services such as counselling and information, as well as referrals and links to services such as language training, employment and training programs, and mental health and trauma supports.

Our government is providing the Canadian Ukrainian Immigrant Aid Society with $900,000 of additional funding over three years, from 2022-2025, to help enhance the agency’s capacity to respond to the crisis and increased demand to support new arrivals from the Ukraine.