Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser has unveiled a series of special measures to aid those impacted by the wildfires, including free replacement documents for Canadians and extended support for individuals involved in the rebuilding efforts.
The Canadian government has announced immediate measures to support individuals impacted by the ongoing severe wildfire season.
Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser has unveiled a series of special measures to aid those impacted by the wildfires, including free replacement documents for Canadians and extended support for individuals involved in the rebuilding efforts.
Under the initiative led by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, Canadians, permanent residents, and temporary residents who have been directly affected by the wildfires can receive replacement documents at no cost.
The range of eligible documents includes permanent resident cards, Canadian citizenship certificates, Canadian passports, and other travel documents that have been lost, damaged, destroyed, or rendered inaccessible due to the devastating fires.
International students, temporary foreign workers, and other visitors who have directly suffered due to the wildfires and face status expiration by September 30 will also qualify for the initiative. These individuals will be able to apply for, restore, or extend their status in Canada without incurring any fees.
“We will continue to be there for those people across the country who are facing extreme wildfires,” said Fraser in a statement.
“These new measures will make it easier for Canadians, permanent residents, and temporary residents to replace lost documents. They will also help make sure temporary residents are not unduly penalized and are there to help rebuild our communities,” he added.
This provision offers reassurance to temporary workers unable to work due to fire-related workplace closures, enabling them to remain in the country until their workplaces reopen. Additionally, international students facing class delays or cancellations can extend their study permits without facing penalties, ensuring they can complete their studies without hindrance.
These special measures will remain in effect until September 30, allowing affected Canadians, permanent residents, and temporary residents sufficient time to resolve document replacement or temporary status issues.
Officials have recently said that Canada is heading towards its most devastating year of wildfires on record, as warm and dry conditions are expected to persist until the end of the summer, Reuters reported.
As of Sunday, an astonishing 3.3 million hectares of land have already been consumed by flames. The scale of destruction has resulted in over 120,000 individuals being temporarily displaced from their homes.
