Ukrainians settling in Regina with help from immigration consultant

It’s been one year since Russia invaded Ukraine and the war has seen many families come to Saskatchewan.

MyCana Immigration in Regina has helped some of those families.

Immigration consultant Marlou Poquiz says he has helped people settle here within the last year.

But he said right now, there aren’t any pending applications at his office.

“Many are trying to come over and applying because of the crisis. There’s a lot of them there and we just got the few applications because they don’t know how to do it,” Poquiz said.

He added a lot of the people from Ukraine coming to Canada are going through the federal government.

Poquiz said moving to Canada has helped many families from Ukraine.

“They are provided with a chance to become a permanent resident and besides that they are able to apply for a work permit so they can work,” he said.

Poquiz also explained why many people from Ukraine come to Saskatchewan.

“We have a booming economy here. We’re starting to develop compared to other cities,” he said.

He also believes it may be hard for them in other communities because of competition when it comes to  getting a job.

“It’s the best place to start a family, especially for Ukrainians,” Poquiz said.

But he explained that people 72 years and older are not able to come to Canada and seek a permanent residency.

“If we bring over sickly 72-year-olds, it’s going to be a big strain with the government. Even if they are healthy 72-year-olds and they become a permanent resident, they haven’t contributed to the economy and they would have the benefits of retirees,” Poquiz said.

He added that while for some it is a struggle to settle in, many others bring over their skills.

On Friday, a vigil was held for Ukraine at City Hall in Regina with another held at Saskatoon’s City Hall.