Trilingual hotline providing legal help to Ukrainians in Canada

The Canadian government is funding $475,788 for a trilingual hotline over the next three years to aid Ukrainians in Canada with legal services. The money will fund Pro Bono Ontario’s Ukrainian Refugee Legal Relief Initiative, offering legal advice nationwide and abroad. The hotline will connect Ukrainians with Canadian lawyers for immigration-related advice or referrals to local organizations. Justice Minister Arif Virani applauded Pro Bono Ontario for improving access to justice, emphasizing the government’s ongoing support for Ukrainians displaced by Russia’s invasion. Since its launch in June 2022, the hotline has already served over 1,300 people. With 1.3 million residents of Ukrainian descent, Canada has accepted 221,231 Ukrainians under an emergency travel program from March 17, 2022, to January 27, 2024