George Melnyk: Canada needs a special program to open doors for those fleeing Ukraine

The following article, George Melnyk: Canada needs a special program to open doors for those fleeing Ukraine, was published in the Vancouver Sun on March 8, 2022.

Opinion: I want to help these refugees and I know most Canadians want to as well

I came to Canada as a refugee at the age of three. That identity has stayed with me throughout my life. As an adult, I have worked on behalf of refugees, beginning with Vietnamese boat people in 1980 and continuing with Syrian refugees in 2015. When I see the images and hear the voices of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, I can see myself as one of those children. I want to help, and I know that most Canadians want to as well.

The UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) said on Tuesday that more than two million people, mostly women and children, have fled Ukraine since Feb. 24. And the latest projections are that up to seven million people could be displaced. This is a huge number.

There are five factors that influence how Canada and Canadians should respond.

First, there is the West’s failure to stop the invasion by threatening sanctions and offering modest military aid. This failure creates an obligation to help those who have become refugees as a consequence.

Second, Canada’s long tradition of aiding refugees, most recently Syrians in 2015 and Afghans in 2021, needs to be continued for those fleeing Ukraine. Canada has benefitted economically in the long term from this humanitarian policy. It will do so again.

Third, Canada is home to over one million people who claim Ukrainian ancestry. Their concern for their relatives in Ukraine indicates a willingness to help in re-settlement. Canada has a unique refugee sponsorship program that allows a group of five people to sponsor a refugee or a family. Mobilizing the Ukrainian diaspora under this program could potentially help tens of thousands, if not more.

Fourth, the extensive media coverage of the invasion and the resulting flood of refugees has created a high level of awareness among the public. Public opinion is overwhelmingly supportive of offering assistance. This alone should encourage the government to act quickly and generously.

Fifth, there is a legitimate concern that a Russian victory would result in a cultural genocide because Putin has said publicly that he does not recognize Ukrainian identity. Since Canada prides itself on its diversity and inclusivity, welcoming those whose identity is threatened would be a sign of its commitment to these principles. Considering the legacy of our treatment of Indigenous peoples, whose identities were threatened, Canadians need to be especially sensitive to this issue. Helping refugees is one way of doing that.

These five factors must guide Canada’s response to the refugee crisis. So far, the government has said it will match donations to the Red Cross up to $10 million. Canada has also removed limits on the number of visa applications from Ukrainians. This is a very modest start. We can do a lot more.

Most importantly, Canada needs a special program to open doors for these refugees. No doubt the shock and tragedy of fleeing Ukraine and leaving loved ones behind has most of these refugees hoping the war will end soon and that they can return. But we need to be ready if they cannot go back. This special program would put teams in all the receiving countries to assist with applications. It would also reach out to those Canadians who want to sponsor refugees, making the sponsorship process quick and easy. Private sponsorship could be the major player in this crisis because it has been shown to be more successful in resettling refugees compared to government sponsorship.

As well as those who have fled the country, there are at least one million internally displaced people in Ukraine who need help and their numbers will only grow as the fighting continues. Canada has the resources to provide humanitarian aid to them while their own country has to put its resources into surviving the onslaught. Canada can be a model for other countries if we are proactive and generous. Let’s go to bat for these people. I intend to do my part and I know that my fellow citizens will. They just need to be given ways to do so.

George Melnyk is professor emeritus of communication, media and film at the University of Calgary. He is the co-editor of Finding Refuge in Canada: Narratives of Dislocation (2021), and co-founder of refugeestorybank.ca