Yvan Baker, a Liberal Party MP of Ukrainian origin, is one of the most active supporters of Ukraine in the Canadian Parliament, which celebrates its national Canada Day on July 1. After being elected to the House of Commons in 2019, he became the chair of the parliamentary friendship group with Ukraine, which now includes dozens of MPs from all political parties.
Baker has consistently promoted pro-Ukrainian initiatives – from introducing resolutions and petitions to supporting public events in solidarity with Ukraine. In an interview with Ukrinform, he spoke about the reasons behind Canada’s unwavering support for Ukraine, Ottawa’s role in a future peace process, the prospects for Ukrainian asylum seekers, efforts to counter Russian disinformation, and the future of bilateral relations overall.
A PATHWAY TO PERMANENT RESIDENCE WOULD BENEFIT BOTH UKRAINIANS AND CANADA
- Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians have come to Canada seeking protection. What should Canada’s approach be toward those Ukrainians who are currently here and cannot safely return home?
- I have been leading advocacy efforts to encourage Canada to create a pathway to permanent residence for people who are already here on CUAET visas. Some of these Ukrainians have now been in Canada for almost four years. They are living here, contributing to our communities and economy. But because most of them cannot obtain permanent residence through existing pathways, they cannot fully realize their potential. If you do not have permanent residence, you tend to plan for the short term. People may not upgrade their skills, start businesses, or make long-term investments. But if you know you have the opportunity to stay permanently, you are more likely to do those things. So this is a loss for Ukrainians who are here, but also for Canada. Moreover, many of their children now face international student tuition fees at universities. A pathway to permanent residence would help these Ukrainians improve their quality of life, support their families, and contribute more to Canada’s economy. In my view, these people are effectively here for the long term, but without long-term status.
