Motion defeated on researching opportunities to further support Ukrainian evacuees

The M.D. of Bonnyville council defeated a motion to research opportunities to bring Ukrainian refugee families to the area last Tuesday. 

Councillor Don Slipchuk presented a notice of motion at the Feb. 14 meeting, to discuss program options to assist or even recruit Ukrainian families. The motion was at the table on Feb. 28 and was not supported. 

“It’s a tough thing,” Reeve Barry Kalinski told Lakeland Connect, saying the wording of the motion was vague. 

“I know it’s tough in Ukraine, I’m Ukrainian, half of our council is Ukrainian, I just don’t know if we’re in the business to do that. There’s a lot of programs through provincial and federal that councillor Slipchuk can get involved with.

“I’m supporting Ukrainian people through the church in my own way, and we have Ukrainian families who have come to our church, and we’re helping them out. I think that’s the way to go about it.”

While many expressed concern for what was taking place overseas, after discussion, council voted 5-2 against to research opportunities for support to bring refugee Ukrainian families to the M.D. of Bonnyville.

The motion also read that a report would be returned to council by April 1, 2023 with options for support implementation, and that $30,000 would be set aside annually for a Council approved support program until the crisis in Ukraine was over. 

Slipchuk said that not only could they help those escaping the war, but it could also fill gaps locally for workers. 

Deputy Reeve Ben Fadeyiw hinted at a provincial program that was fast-tracking immigration and aimed at bringing in 33,000 more workers to Alberta by 2025. 

“It’s a very compassionate gesture and action if we do this, but I don’t think it’s the M.D.’s responsibility. I think it’s more of a charity issue, and as Deputy Reeve Fadeyiw said there was provincial programming,” said councillor Josh Crick during the meeting. 

Councillor Dana Swigart suggested they model a program similar to what Vegreville has done. He said they’ve brought in 64 families living with already established households in the town.  

The Alberta government announced on Feb. 24 that they were expanding funding up to $27.3 million to support evacuees in Budget 2023.

The City of Cold Lake devised a policy called the Ukrainian Arrival Temporary Assistance Policy last October where eligible families would receive two taxi trip vouchers a week and one punch pass for each family member to use at the Energy Center. The applications and funding were being administered by the Cold Lake FCSS.