Helping Ukrainians settle in Alberta

Alberta’s total assistance to Ukraine currently exceeds $13 million, with new funding of more than $2 million to support settlement and language services delivered by newcomer-serving organizations across the province.

Recognizing that many Ukrainians will be arriving with complex physical and mental health needs, Alberta will also provide comprehensive health coverage to help them access important health-care supports, including hospital visits and physician and mental health services.

Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services are working collaboratively with federal partners, host organizations and health-care providers to coordinate the streamlined delivery of health-care services to Ukrainians as they settle in the province.

“Alberta holds a special place in its heart for Ukraine and its people. As we welcome Ukrainian newcomers to our province, Albertans are showing their resourcefulness and willingness to work together as we do everything we can to make sure they feel safe and supported.”

Alberta’s government also continues to accelerate the assessment of applications for permanent residency made by Ukrainian nationals and waive fees through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.

With ongoing assistance from the government and settlement agencies across the province, Ukrainians arriving in Alberta will be able to:

• Access health coverage to receive the health care and support they need.
• Immediately enrol children in K-12 schools in their new communities to ensure continued education, and access language learner programs if needed.
• Get an Alberta identification card, including a driver’s licence, to access important services and supports, such as health care and banking services.
• Get help finding a licensed child care program in their community that works best for their family.
• Access organizations and resources that can help find work and build careers in Alberta like Alberta Supports centres – including searching for jobs specifically for Ukrainian arrivals.
• Access community adult learning programs to improve financial and literacy skills, including English as an Additional Language.
• Access a reference guide at alberta.ca/Ukraine in English and Ukrainian, with detailed information on resources and supports that can help Ukrainian arrivals settle into their new communities.

“Alberta’s government continues to work closely with the federal government and newcomer-serving organizations in Alberta to support the people of Ukraine during these challenging times. To those of you arriving in Alberta, we welcome you to our province and will offer you the supports you need to live, work and raise your family.”

“As our province’s economy continues to recover, we are making sure all Albertans can participate in our economy and prosperity, including Ukrainians arriving in our province. We are pleased to provide additional support towards training that will help Ukrainians improve their financial, literacy and language skills as they start their new careers and lives in Alberta.”

“As Chair of the Advisory Council on Alberta-Ukraine Relations, I am proud to know Alberta is welcoming these resilient Ukrainians with open arms. Our government will continue working with newcomer associations to ensure these families can resettle on our soil and recover from the horrors they have been put through.”

“The Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Alberta Provincial Council is committed to supporting our member organizations that are helping Ukrainians in their time of need. We look forward to the Alberta government's support to ensure that we are able to create a safe and supportive environment for Ukrainian families here in our province.”

“On behalf of Alberta’s newcomer-serving agencies, we are grateful to the government for new funding for settlement services and their ongoing collaboration with the sector locally and nationally to support new Albertans. It helps our member agencies do what they do best, support and welcome newcomers as they come into this province and setting them up for success.”

For more information on how Alberta is supporting Ukrainian newcomers, visit alberta.ca/Ukraine.

Quick facts

• Alberta is home to more than 369,000 people of Ukrainian descent.
  • This represents about 27 per cent of the Canadian population of Ukrainian descent and about nine per cent of Alberta’s overall population – the third highest proportion after Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
• To show solidarity with Ukraine, Alberta is also flying the Ukrainian flag at the legislature grounds and displaying supportive signage at the Jubilee Auditorium and other venues in Alberta.
• To date, Alberta’s government has provided the following assistance to Ukraine and its citizens since the conflict with Russia began:
  • $1 million to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, organized by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and the Canada Ukraine Foundation, to help coordinate and deliver humanitarian aid.
  • $5 million to the Ukrainian World Congress to equip 5,000 members of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Force with defensive equipment.
  • $5 million to the Canada Ukraine Foundation for additional humanitarian aid.
  • $350,000 to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Alberta Provincial Council for their campaign coordinating the air shipment of first aid and defensive equipment to Ukraine.
• Alberta is prioritizing applications from Ukrainian nationals and waiving their application and post-decision service fees to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program.