Ihor Michalchyshyn, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress

As Canada enters a new political era and Ukraine approaches the fourth year of full-scale war, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) is refining its strategy and strengthening its advocacy work. Fresh from the organization’s Triennial Congress, UCC Executive Director Ihor Michalchyshyn spoke with Ukrinform about the community’s priorities, Canada’s support for Ukraine, and the evolving needs of Ukrainians across the country.

RESULTS OF THE THREE-YEAR CONGRESS

- Let’s start with the outcomes of the Triennial Congress. What were the key decisions or priorities coming out of this Congress?

- The Congress is primarily a discussion forum. We had keynote speakers who highlighted key themes and workshops focused on topics like governance and government relations. We also adopted around 40 resolutions that provide direction for our Board and will guide our work over the next three years. A new Board of Directors was also elected. It will now be up to the new leadership to prioritize the resolutions and determine the order in which they should be addressed. As staff, we will support those decisions.

Overall, a major theme was redoubling our efforts to support Ukraine in all aspects: military, humanitarian, and economic. There was significant discussion about supporting veterans, mental health needs, and abducted Ukrainian children, including a powerful presentation from Mykola Kuleba of Save Ukraine. We also discussed defence, disinformation, and many other issues.

One important outcome was the knowledge and energy that delegates took home. Over 400 delegates participated this year, and almost half were first-time attendees. We saw young people, newcomers, and long-time community members meeting for the first time, learning from each other, and building relationships. Much of the value of the Congress comes from that networking and collaboration.

STRENGTHENING CANADA'S SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE

- How do you assess Canada’s current level of military, humanitarian, and political support for Ukraine?

- Canada’s support is strong and aligned with the coalition of Ukraine’s allies. But there is never “enough”, we can never say that what has been done fully meets Ukraine’s needs. We are pleased with recent announcements, but believe Canada can and should do much more, especially now that defence and security spending is expanding. There are huge opportunities for joint production, joint ventures, and investment in Ukraine’s defence industry. In many areas, like drones or AI warfare, Ukraine is far ahead of Canada. Canadian companies should be partnering with Ukrainian firms that are on the leading edge. Politically, we’ve seen intense negotiations recently. It’s encouraging to see Canada remain firmly aligned with allies and stand against attempts to pressure Ukraine into concessions.

- Where does UCC believe Canada should increase its involvement or leadership?

- Canada has significant capacity to expand defence production at home and to invest in Ukraine. With higher defence spending, the resources exist, but we need partners, projects, and clear direction. Politically, Canada must continue to stand firmly with Ukraine to ensure it is not pushed into signing an unjust agreement. The principle remains: nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine.

- With shifting public opinion and budget pressures, is the Ukrainian community concerned about changes to Canada’s support?

- We conducted polling in October showing strong public support for Ukraine in Canada: nearly 80 percent want tougher sanctions, 70 percent want more asset seizures, and 65 percent support increased military aid. So overall, Canadians remain very supportive. The new government has been strong through the G7 and other venues, and we continue to encourage all political parties to do more. Our polling shows that Canadians will support them when they take further action.

- Before the federal budget was introduced, UCC lobbied for several priorities. Were those efforts successful?

- We emphasized the need to increase defence spending and have seen the government commit to much higher targets. Canada’s limited military capacity has long constrained our ability to help Ukraine, as we simply did not have enough equipment or ammunition. We are also pleased that Ukraine funding was not cut in the budget.

MAINTAINING CROSS-PARTY CONSENSUS

- Ukraine has long enjoyed bipartisan support in the Parliament of Canada. How does UCC plan to maintain that consensus?

- By doing what we’ve done for 85 years - engaging every elected official from every party. We have strong local representatives across Canada who meet regularly with their MPs. We meet with MPs and senators in Ottawa as well. Our positions are transparent and publicly accessible. We also use polling and public information campaigns to counter declining awareness. Media coverage has decreased, unless there is a major attack, so many Canadians simply don’t hear about the war regularly. It’s not hostility; it’s a lack of information. Our job is to ensure Ukraine stays visible.

- What are the biggest barriers in Ottawa right now to advancing support for Ukraine?

- A major challenge is understanding how Canada’s significantly increased defence and security budgets will be spent - what portion is for Canada, what portion can support Ukraine, and who is making those decisions. Another challenge is maintaining urgency. Almost four years into the full-scale invasion, the war has become “normalized” for many Canadians. They may not hear about it as often, even though thousands of Ukrainians are affected every day. Our job is to remind Canadians that the war continues relentlessly and that the need for support has not diminished.

THE NEEDS AND UNCERTAINTIES FACING UKRAINIANS IN CANADA

- After nearly four years of war, how would you describe the current mood and needs of Ukrainian communities in Canada?

- It’s difficult to say exactly how many Ukrainians remain in Canada because the government does not track departures. Of the roughly 300,000 people who arrived under the CUAET program since 2022, we estimate that perhaps 150,000 to 200,000 are still here, but there is no reliable, city-by-city data. What we do know is that communities across the country are active and growing, but people face a great deal of uncertainty.

Many challenges stem from a temporary status. After several years in Canada, people are working, raising children, and integrating into their local communities, but they still do not know whether they will be able to stay permanently. Tuition fees have become one of the most pressing issues. Some universities are charging Ukrainians full international-student rates, which many simply cannot afford, leading some to drop out entirely.

Because of these pressures, we have urged the Minister of Immigration to create a dedicated pathway to permanent residency, similar to the program Canada offered to Hong Kong residents. Many Ukrainians are already applying through economic or humanitarian streams, but the immigration system is overwhelmed and processing times can stretch into years. Given the duration of the war and the lives people are building here, offering a clear and accessible pathway to permanent residency is essential.

- Ukraine recently included Canada on its list of countries eligible for dual citizenship. What are your thoughts?

- It’s a positive step. People should not be forced to choose between countries. Many newcomers have property, businesses, or family in both places and move frequently. Dual citizenship reflects that reality. For people like me, who were born in Canada, Ukrainian citizenship carries symbolic importance. For generations it was impossible. Now it will give people a meaningful legal connection to Ukraine, not just a cultural or emotional one.

ORDINARY CANADIANS, NOT ONLY THOSE OF UKRAINIAN DESCENT, SUPPORT UKRAINE

- How is UCC responding to growing Russian disinformation efforts in Canada?

- We don’t have the kind of resources that Russia commits to disinformation, but we address the issue wherever and however we can. We educate ourselves and our community, and we held a strong workshop on the topic during the Congress. In the past, we have participated in the public inquiry into foreign interference and we raise the issue at every opportunity.

We are concerned that the Canadian government doesn’t always fully grasp the scale of the threat or take it as seriously as needed, especially regarding the security of public institutions, hacking risks, and access to sensitive systems. We have also spoken with the government about online platforms where Russian state actors operate and how such accounts might be restricted. As a community organization with limited capacity, we continue raising awareness, pushing security agencies to treat the threat seriously, and ensuring politicians understand how pervasive Russian disinformation has become.

- What message would you like Ukrainians in Ukraine to hear from Canada’s Ukrainian community?

- It’s a difficult moment, especially with peace plan discussions underway. Ukrainians want peace, but not peace imposed through concessions or injustice. Ukrainians in Canada stand firmly with Ukraine. We pressure our government every day to do more and to ensure no bad deal is forced on Ukraine. But this isn’t only about the diaspora. Canada as a whole supports Ukraine. Canadians want to help - they just don’t always know how. Ukrainians should know that Canadians are with them, standing by them, and fighting alongside them politically, economically, and morally.

Maksym Nalyvaiko, Ottawa

Photos provided by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress