Member Statement (16 May 2022)

From Hansard (16 May 2022)

 

Saskatchewan Welcomes Ukrainian Immigrants

Mr. Jenson: — Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over 6 million people have fled Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin began his heinous and unjustified invasion. Dr. Suhyb Abulibdeh and his wife, Oksana Pietushkovah, are among them.

Shortly after the invasion began, Suhyb was called to help defend his country. Alone and with airplanes overhead and bombs going off all around their Kharkiv home, Oksana began running out of food and it was becoming much too dangerous to stay. Their 1300-kilometre journey to safety was incredibly dangerous and difficult. In Oksana’s words:

When we got to Kyiv, the driver turned off the lights on the train and told us to turn off our phones and sit quietly with no sound. A train full of children and women, we stood still for four hours in the dark, in silence and in fear.

From Warsaw it was on to Vienna, Paris, Calgary, and finally Saskatoon, arriving on April 8th. Mr. Speaker, I was privileged to meet them at the airport that evening to welcome them to our province. Mr. Speaker, I’m proud to report that Suhyb and Oksana have put down roots in Martensville. And our government will keep doing everything we can to ensure others who want to come to Saskatchewan are afforded every opportunity to make our province their new home. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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