The province will set up an 800 number to answer calls from the community about refugees fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
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Premier John Horgan says there is still “much to be done” to be ready for potentially thousands of Ukrainian refugees who will need to find housing and support in BC
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He said the province will set up an 1-800 number to answer calls from the community.
“We all stand ready to open our hearts and our homes to the refugees will be coming,” he said, at a news briefing Friday, after hosting a roundtable with local Ukrainian community leaders.
The premier said while they don’t yet know how many refugees —mainly women and children— are coming to BC, the government is trying to figure out what it can do in terms of housing and schools.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” said Horgan, adding it’s difficult to plan when they don’t have a number yet from the federal government.
He said there are challenges with translation, finding housing, and securing trauma services for children so they are reaching out to nongovernmental organizations that help refugees and to members of the faith community to look for solutions, especially with the housing.
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“I know the community of faith that I’m attached to people are, you know, renovating their foundations as quickly as they can to prepare a suite or they’re emptying out rooms that have been filled with boxes to make sure there’s a space for people if it’s needed,” said Horgan.
The premier added there is a sense many Ukrainians will stay in Europe so that they can go home and start the rebuilding process if Russian president Vladimir Putin vacates their sovereign nation.
“But if that’s not the case, Canada, of course is a desirable location for the Ukrainian community to come to because of the support systems they’d have when they arrive,” said Horgan
“There’s a long long list that we’re assembling right now and preparing for it but until we know who’s coming, it’s really hard to pinpoint just where we’re going to focus most of our attention.”
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