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Question Period - I ask what the Premier is doing to support refugees from Ukraine and Afghanistan

Wednesday March 3, in question period, I asked the Premier what she is doing with respect to helping immigrants from Ukraine and Afghanistan.  My question and the Premier’s response are below.

Hon. Jon Gerrard (River Heights): Madam Speaker, war crimes and human rights abuses have led to a crisis with large numbers of refugees fleeing the dire situation in Ukraine, as well as many refugees fleeing or attempting to flee from Afghanistan.

      The Premier says she favours immigration, but what are the gov­ern­ment's plans to help refugees? What ad­di­tional funding allocations will be made? Is the gov­ern­ment working with local com­mu­nity groups in Winnipeg to address the needs of im­migrants? Will the gov­ern­ment provide funding to local com­mu­nity groups to help with settlement in Manitoba? Will the gov­ern­ment hire ad­di­tional staff for the stressed prov­incial nominee system?

Hon. Heather Stefanson (Premier): I heard loud and clear from Manitobans as I travelled through­out our province about the importance of our Prov­incial Nominee Program, and I also heard from Manitobans with lived ex­per­ience that there's ways that we can improve that program, and we are committed to improving that program for Manitobans, Madam Speaker.

      And what I'd say is that we have announced the immigration advisory council, and I want to thank Dr. Lloyd Axworthy, who has agreed to co-chair that along with our minister, and I thank them. And there's lots of work to do ahead of us, Madam Speaker, that will address many of the issues that this member has brought forward.

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