'Night and day': Lawyers say Canada offers more support to Ukrainian refugees than Afghans

Two immigration lawyers say there is an unfair difference in how the Canadian government treats refugees from Afghanistan versus how it treats refugees from Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a special program for Ukrainians attempting to emigrate to Canada, called the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUATE). Under CUATE, there won’t be a limit on the number of Ukrainians coming to Canada temporarily.

This program will enable Ukrainian nationals to apply for a free visitor visa that will allow them to stay in the country for three years as opposed to the standard six months - and they can also apply for open work permits and study permits, free of charge.

“This is basically how all immigration programs should be for everyone,” Cassandra Fultz, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer, told CTVNews.ca.

“But instead, it really is night and day if we talk about the programs for Afghanistan’s refugees.”