Map from the Nations Project Online.
Canada has evacuated its embassy in Kiev and moved our 200 troops out of the country. Other countries have moved their people out as well and airlines are starting to cancel flights. Over 130,000 Russian troops are poised at the border. They already occupy Eastern Ukraine and Crimea.
Can it be de-escalated? It seems that Vladimir Putin is the only one who can answer that. Oil and gas pipelines have Europe timid. The nuclear arsenal of the Russians have the U.S. cautious. Ukrainians are overmatched if it comes to fighting. They will resist and might mete out punishment but the numbers are so great. Ukraine stands alone against a three-sided attack. There are European countries to the west but none with cross over the border to help. Moreover, it is very likely that much of the 40 million population of Ukraine might be seeking refuge and headed west to Europe.
How many Canadians are among the population? Not sure anyone knows. Perhaps not even government. It is only when a crisis happens that we learn just how many Canadian passport holders are out there. In 2006, when warfare was afoot in Lebanon with the usual parties, nearly 50,000 Canadian passport holders registered with the embassy and begged to be evacuated. Thousands did. Presumably, when things settled a bit, they returned. You never know though. Beirut continues to suffer from the explosion and Lebanon as beautiful as it is, struggles.
In an actual war, it will not be easy for any countries to extract their people, let alone Canada. Does a list of citizens present in Ukraine registered with the embassy been collected? And does it even matter when the embassy is closed and Canadian troops out of the country? For days Canada and other nations have warned their people to get out and get now.
Canadian passport holders might be the least of our concern. If Russia invades this week, the 40 million citizens of Ukraine will be on the move whether they are fighting or not. And the only way to go is west. And a lot of Europe is going to say: "No vacancy." No one wants to think about a refugee problem in Europe. There are already many people migrating into Europe and within Europe.
In the 1990s, Canada took in many migrants from the Balkans as the former Yugoslavia broke up. Nearly 50,000 moved to Canada in that period. Years later, Canada took in migrants from Iraq and Syria conflicts. Canada received 25,000 alone from Syria by 2016. In ten tears from 1975 on, Canada received 120,000 Vietnamese "boat people" migrants.
Largely, Canada has done very well by taking in those who are fleeing instability in the world. We don't always move fast though but immigration and refugees are Canada's lifeblood. In the most recent years, Canada has had the highest growth rate in the G7 due largely to immigration.
Immigrants have started businesses in Winnipeg and in the province or filled professional jobs where there was desperate need whether in manufacturing, transportation, services or health. They did not steal jobs from other Canadians. The low unemployment has remained consistent even as our population grew. Immigrants and refugees work as soon as they have a safe place to do so.
As Russia looks to invade, we in Manitoba should be first to take in refugees from Ukraine. Rather than being caught with our fingers in our mouths, we should be taking in thousands. The tragedy is that things move so slow when people fleeing move so fast. If there is no plan for this somewhere in Canadian policy books, there should be. Heaven forbid an invasion happens on the weekend when our governments puts up the "gone fishing" sign.
We do have a new immigration task force set up in Manitoba. They should be in contact with the the federal government the moment the need arises. If, it arises. It doesn't look good. The response from Canada and the world seems not enough to stop what is coming.
People will suffer and likely die refugee in camps if we slow walk this. Where else might Ukrainians might feel comfortable to go if they can't go home? Manitoba. And all over the province, mind you. There are populations of Ukrainian Canadians spread out over the region. Amongst the refugees are people who can hit the ground running as professionals, students and contributors to our society rather than waste away in a camp with medical, driver, mechanics, academic and everything in between experience. There will be many vulnerable people that we do have the means to be supportive of in time of need.
We can do our part if need be if others can't or won't. It is unknown what will happen with Ukraine. But we should be ready and not caught off guard. This province has been a haven for many people. And it might have to be again. It is the least we can do.
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