Saskatchewan wants to open the doors to an unlimited number of Ukrainians affected by the conflict. Immigration Minister Jeremy Harrison says he wrote a letter last week to his federal counterpart to indicate the province’s desire to do its part to assist in the acute humanitarian situation and the growing refugee crisis, which has already seen nearly one-million people leave that country.

Harrison says, “It’s time to pay our debt back to those generations of Ukrainian immigrants who helped build our province, giving refuge to their ancestors who are being so viciously attacked by the Putin regime.”

The province will provide funding for the coordination of community supports, including settlement services for Ukrainian families arriving in Saskatchewan, and once they have arrived, the provincial government says it will ensure the programs and services are available for newcomers to gain the language, skills, and connections to successfully integrate.

The province is prioritizing applications from Ukrainian citizens for the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program.  About 15 per cent of Saskatchewan people can trace all or part of their ancestry to Ukraine.