Ukrainians speak out on waning support from Quebec

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A thousand days into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainians are urging Quebecers to sustain support as the devastation of their country persists. But as protests in Montreal marked the grim milestone Tuesday, concerns have mounted in the Ukrainian community that support is fading.

Quebec initially opened its arms to Ukrainian refugees when the war began in February 2022, said Michael Shwec, president of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) in Quebec. But now, he said, the province has become one of the least welcoming. Refugees face shrinking health-care coverage, trouble accessing francization classes and mounting bureaucratic obstacles.

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“It’s absurd,” Shwec said. “The war is just as atrocious today as it was when these programs were first put in place.”

He added: “Don’t mix it up with your immigration policy where you’re having too many international students. This is a refuge from war.”

More than six million Ukrainians have fled their homeland since the start of Russia’s invasion, according to the United Nations. Of those, around 300,000 have arrived in Canada under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel.

Thousands of Ukrainians have settled in Quebec and the Ukrainian community has rallied to support the refugees, helping them find housing, furnish apartments and enrol their children in schools.

“These people have suffered so much,” said Shwec. “Most of them don’t have a home to return to. Many have lost family members.”

However, Ukrainians on emergency work permits will lose access to Quebec health care in 2025.

On Tuesday, around a dozen Ukrainians and supporters gathered outside the Russian consulate on du Musée Ave. to mark the 1,000th day of the war. Myroslava Polishchuk, a Ukrainian attending the protest, said she was concerned about the looming changes to health-care eligibility.

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“How can you live without medical insurance? It’s impossible.”

For Polishchuk, the war’s toll is deeply personal.

“I have no more tears. I think I have no more emotions,” she said. “People lose their houses, lose their lives, lose loved ones — husbands, brothers, mothers. It’s very painful.”

Polishchuk protests whenever she can, describing it as a way to support her homeland from afar. She said her hope this year remains the same as every year: that this will be the last year of war.

“I’m so grateful for the courage and resilience of Ukrainians, especially the soldiers and volunteers helping us win,” she said.

The protest outside the Russian consulate on Tuesday was led by Montreal city councillor Serge Sasseville, who has organized daily demonstrations outside the consulate since March 2022.

“The main purpose of this daily protest is to show Russia that in Montreal, we stand against the war in Ukraine and support the Ukrainian people,” he said.

Sasseville, who is barred from entering Russia because of his outspoken support of Ukraine, stood behind a stroller painted in red to symbolize blood. Holding a speaker blaring bomb-warning sirens, he led chants of “Slava Ukraini” (glory to Ukraine).

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“I never thought it would last so long, with so many people dying,” he said. “I would have thought Ukraine’s allies would have been more proactive and done what they are doing now — providing Ukraine with what’s necessary to win — much earlier.”

The war’s 1,000th day came amid escalating tensions on the battlefield. This week, Ukraine received the green light to use long-range U.S. missiles on Russian territory.

In what appeared to be a direct response, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved new conditions for the use of nuclear weapons, including scenarios involving attacks by non-nuclear states backed by nuclear powers.

Against this backdrop, the UCC is urging the Canadian government to take stronger action. Its demands include increased aid to Ukraine and tougher sanctions on Russia.

“Ukraine has never asked for soldiers — just ammunition. But if this war isn’t stopped, the next country will be a NATO member, and that will bring Canadian soldiers into the fight,” Shwec said.

A second protest, organized by the UCC, is planned for 6 p.m. at Phillips Square in downtown Montreal.

“Every day that passes, this conflict gets worse,” Shwec said.

hnorth@postmedia.com

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