Refugees welcome? Comparing Canadian policy on Palestinian and Ukrainian refugees

Canada’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was an incredible show of compassion towards a nation facing an extraordinary threat to its livelihood and safety. Less than a month after the invasion, parliament approved a recommendation by the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration and launched the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) on March 17. It allowed any Ukrainian national, regardless of ties to Canada, to enter the country for up to three years as a temporary resident.

The program provided financial support, health care, and job opportunities to Ukrainians seeking refuge. On May 11, the government announced that it would provide three charter flights, free of charge, for holders of the CUAET visa. Under a separate program introduced on May 22, the Canada-Ukraine Transitional Assistance Initiative further supported Ukrainian refugees by providing each adult $3,000 and each child $1,500. Provinces such as British Columbia and Ontario waived health insurance plan requirements, and Manitoba covered the cost of medical examinations upon arrival.

The Omatsu Files

This article is part of The Omatsu Files, a running column written in memory of Rick Omatsu, who was born in 1939 in Vancouver, on the cusp of WWII, which would change his life—a life that was sadly marked by racism. As a Japanese Canadian, in 1942, Rick was sent to the B.C. interior. After the war, the family was forced by the government to leave the province. The family relocated to Hamilton, Ontario, where Rick remained until his passing at age 82. The Omatsu Files is a space dedicated to the voices of young researchers from equity-deserving backgrounds who are focusing on issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

For two years, Canada accepted an unlimited number of applications from Ukrainian citizens who were seeking temporary refuge from the war. From March 2022 to April 2024, 962,612 applications were approved, with a total of 298,128 Ukrainians arriving in Canada. These refugees were provided with a clear pathway to employment, access to health care, and, in many cases, a sense of immediate belonging. This swift action is commendable and speaks to Canada’s potential to act decisively when faced with humanitarian crises.

My mom, who was raised in Odesa, Ukraine, personally knows several people who have greatly benefited from the CUAET program and Canada’s humanitarian assistance. For many, it was an immense sigh of relief after months of relentless Russian attacks, finally being able to find peace in a country that not only welcomed them but provided the resources needed to rebuild their lives.

Canada’s swift and compassionate response to their struggles offered them a future they thought had been lost in the chaos of war. For these families, the transition to Canada wasn’t just about escaping the violence but about finding hope and stability in the face of their unimaginable hardships.

This sense of urgency and compassion has been visibly absent when it comes to Palestinian refugees fleeing the Israeli genocide in Gaza. Despite facing decades of displacement, ongoing conflict, and severe humanitarian crises, Palestinian refugees encounter significant barriers when seeking refuge in Canada.

I grew up in Nazareth. Khirbet Tana in the Nablus governorate is around an hour and a half drive from where I used to live. On November 9, 2023, at around midnight, 15 cars filled with Israeli settlers arrived at the village with a bulldozer. According to B’Tselem, the settlers assaulted the residents, tied their hands, beat and humiliated them, and injured several, including one man who suffered cracked ribs. The following day, the Israeli military blocked access to the village, trapping the already devastated community.

This kind of violence is not an isolated incident—it is a part of the daily reality for many Palestinians. Canada could have responded swiftly. It could have offered the resident of Khirbet Tana a chartered flight and emergency assistance. Yet, unlike the swift and welcoming response extended to Ukrainians, Palestinians fleeing similar or even worse conditions must navigate a complex and restrictive system when seeking safety in Canada.

For those escaping Gaza, the situation is even more dire. Even when basic necessities like water, electricity, and medical care are impossible to find due to ongoing blockades and airstrikes, the chance of finding refuge in Canada is far from guaranteed. The differences are genuinely striking.

Unlike Ukrainians, who were granted unconditional access to Canada, Palestinians must demonstrate a clear connection to the country before they are even considered for entry. While Ukrainian refugees saw unlimited applications accepted, Canada initially capped Palestinian refugee admissions at just 1,000 people, which was later increased to 5,000. Most striking is the approval rate: 81 per cent of Ukrainian applications were accepted, but only 16 per cent of Palestinian applicants have been approved. As of October 5th, 2024, only 300 Palestinians have found refuge in Canada.

The conditions Palestinians face in Gaza are nothing short of catastrophic. With blockades cutting off access to essential supplies, frequent airstrikes, and never-ending threats of violence, Palestinians are living in an unprecedented state of crisis. Yet, Canada’s response has been slow, limited, and bureaucratic. While Ukrainians were able to enter Canada almost immediately, Palestinians endure a maze of documentation, delays, and uncertainty.

Even the differences in the application processes are telling. Ukrainian applicants are not asked detailed security questions and have a swift experience. But for Palestinians, the process takes an average of six hours, and this is without considering the challenges of disrupted cell service and constant bombings. Palestinians must provide a full employment history since the age of 16, indicate their social media accounts, and are even obligated to identify and explain any scars or injuries that required medical attention. These invasive and excessive requirements reflect a profoundly unequal system.

This disparity in treatment raises serious questions about Canada’s commitment to universal human rights and its responsibility on the world stage. How can a country that acted so swiftly to help one group of people fleeing violence be so hesitant when it comes to another?

The answer lies in anti-Palestinian racism, which the Arab Canadian Lawyers Association has defined as a form of racism that “silences, excludes, erases, stereotypes, defames or dehumanizes Palestinians or their narratives.” This deeply entrenched bias impacts not only how Canada responds to refugees but also how Palestinian suffering is viewed globally.

While Ukrainians were met with empathy and immediate support, Palestinians have often been looked at through a lens of suspicion, seen as inherently dangerous. This perception has been driven by decades of misinformation and prejudice, and it shapes the same policy decisions that leave Palestinians trapped in war zones with little hope for sanctuary.

For Canada to uphold its values of justice and equality, it must confront this racism and extend the same compassion to Palestinians that it has to others in need. The contrast between the two responses reflects not only a failure of policy but a failure of moral courage.

The government of Canada has demonstrated its capacity for swift and compassionate action in times of crisis, as seen in its response to the Russian war on Ukraine. The country’s open-door policy, generous financial support, and expedited pathways for resettlement show what is possible when political will align with humanitarian values. But when it comes to Palestinians who are fleeing Israeli violence, Canada’s actions have been disappointingly slow and limited.

The contrast in these responses is stark and deeply troubling. Palestinians, facing an even more dire situation than Ukrainians are facing under Russia, have not been met with the same level of empathy or urgency. Instead, they encounter roadblocks, and a refugee policy designed to exclude rather than welcome. Canada’s response to Palestinian refugees has been marked by hesitation, excessive scrutiny, and a blatant lack of compassion.

If Canada wishes to maintain its image as a global leader in human rights, it must reconcile these contradictions. Palestinians deserve the same dignity and protection as other refugees. Anything less perpetuates a cycle of discrimination that denies their humanity and further entrenches global inequities in the response to suffering.