June 10, 2022
Manitoba Government Announces Additional Support for Ukrainian Refugees
– – –Province Reimbursing Ukrainians for Cost of Federal Immigration Medical Examinations: Premier
To build on its recent commitment to cover the cost of the immigration medical examination required by the federal government for Ukrainians who have arrived in Manitoba under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) temporary resident visa, the Manitoba government will now reimburse Ukrainians who arrived under CUAET and already paid for the federal immigration medical examination themselves, Premier Heather Stefanson announced today.
“Since the beginning of the brutal war aggression against Ukraine, our government has offered our unwavering support for the Ukrainian people and offered safety and refuge to Ukrainians suffering unimaginable loss,” said Stefanson. “We will continue to welcome Ukrainians to Manitoba with open hearts and open arms, and will continue to support them with a full range of provincial services to address their needs.”
Federal immigration rules require CUAET visa holders to have an immigration medical examination conducted by a federally designated physician after their arrival in Canada. In the absence of a federal government commitment to cover the cost of these examinations, the Manitoba government became the first government in Canada to commit to funding them, noted the premier. Today’s announcement closes another gap by supporting Ukrainians who have already paid for the federal immigration medical examination themselves.
Individuals who previously paid for their immigration medical examination in Manitoba can contact the claims unit patient enquiry by phone at 204-786-7367 or email at claims@gov.mb.ca. To apply for the refund, individuals will need to provide their:
- name;
- address;
- Personal Health Identification Number (PHIN) nine-digit health number; and
- receipt from the physician’s office.
Over 1,700 Ukrainians have attended the provincial reception centre to date and Manitoba continues to be the national model for easing the settlement of Ukrainians fleeing the ravages of war, noted the premier.
“We are proud to lead the country through the ongoing work of our Ukrainian Refugee Task Force, our partnership with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress and our supports for housing, health and mental health care, social assistance, child care, education, language services and labour market assistance,” Stefanson said.
The province’s temporary assistance program also provides short-term monthly financial support for housing, basic needs and supplemental health care including prescription, dental and optical benefits. Individuals can apply to the temporary assistance program by phone at 204-945-5324 or by email at TAP@gov.mb.ca.
Stefanson also noted the tremendous support for Ukrainian refugees from settlement agencies, community groups, primary care organizations and volunteers from across the province.
“The compassion and desire to help shown by all Manitobans, has been truly inspiring,” said Stefanson. “While one in seven Manitobans is of Ukrainian descent, we are all Ukrainians during this terrible ordeal.”
The provincial reception centre continues to provide efficient essential settlement services where Ukrainians receive:
- meals and initial intake services to determine individual and family needs;
- access to temporary accommodations as needed;
- access to co-ordinated health-care services through processing for a Manitoba Health card;
- orientation and referral services through Manitoba Start to facilitate awareness of settlement supports that link people to language training, the workforce and longer-term settlement needs;
- resources available through the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Manitoba Provincial Council; and
- services to find more permanent housing.
The reception centre also provides child and youth programming on-site for those staying in temporary accommodations. Ukrainian families settling in Manitoba can also apply for a full subsidy of their child-care fees for six months.
For additional up-to-date information on Manitoba’s response efforts and the resources available for Ukrainian refugees, visit the government’s dedicated website at https://manitoba4ukraine.ca.
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