Canada recently announced plans to bring an unlimited number of Ukrainians to Canada on a three-year visa with the right to work while they are here. It’s an exciting and new plan for humanitarian migration. It also raises an important question. How do we deliver on the promise we make when we offer people resettlement in Canada?
Opportunities for resettlement are important. So, too, are refugees’ experiences once they arrive. Immigrant success has a ripple effect, impacting quality of life, health, and economic well-being. The treatment newcomers receive in the early months in Canada will shape their future for years to come. Immigrant success boosts the prospects for their children and grandchildren to do well in Canada as well as affects their neighbours, their employers, and their communities. We all benefit when immigrants have an opportunity to flourish.