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Ukrainian mom and daughter find comfort in Cambridge, Ont., after bumpy welcome to Canada – CBC.ca

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A mother and daughter from Ukraine thought they had secured a place to live in Canada to escape the war in their home country. But they ended up being scammed out of $2,000 and stranded at the airport in Toronto.

Alena Neklyudova and her nine-year-old daughter, Sasha Volkova, left their family behind, including Neklyudova’s husband and a 19-year-old son, who have been conscripted to fight for Ukraine during the Russian invasion.

While still in Ukraine, they shuttled from place to place to avoid the war, taking shelter from bombs in a friend’s apartment building or in random basements.

“I still have nightmares from it,” Sasha told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo.

They travelled through Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria before ending up in Turkey — all in one night — before catching a flight to Toronto in March.

Neklyudova said she pre-paid $2,000 to arrange for a place to stay in Montreal before she and her daughter flew to Canada. The package deal included a pickup in Toronto, transportation to Montreal and temporary housing.

But when they landed at Pearson International Airport on March 17, no one was there to greet them, and it became clear that whoever took her money was not going to show up.

With nowhere to go, Neklyudova made a frantic post on the Facebook page Canada-Hosts Ukrainians, asking for help.

 

Neklyudova had reached out for help on the Facebook group Canada-Host Ukrainians after she had nowhere to go when she and her daughter landed in Toronto on March 17. (Canada-Host Ukrainians Facebook group)

 

Dozens of people responded to her message, including “Sergey” in Cambridge, Ont. CBC News has agreed to grant him confidentiality because of concerns about security and safety.

Sergey discovered Neklyudova’s post while scanning various Facebook groups to learn how he could help the refugee effort in Ukraine.

“This was literally an SOS call, like ‘Save Our Selves’ because they really didn’t have anywhere to go,” he said.

Sergey speaks Russian and also has relatives in Ukraine who have been affected by the war. He said after a quick introduction and exchange of information, he went to the airport the next day to pick up the pair.

“When she came here, both of them, they looked disoriented,” he said.

“Like, ‘Where are we? What are we doing here? Should we maybe go back?'” Sergey said, translating for Neklyudova.

 

Sasha plays with a house cat. She says she is looking forward to starting classes at a new school in Cambridge but admits she’s a little nervous. (Carmen Groleau/CBC)

 

‘They actually started smiling’

Neklyudova and her daughter have been staying with Sergey and his family of six for almost two weeks. He has helped her get settled, whether it’s driving them to appointments or enrolling Sasha in school.

Sasha said she’s excited to go back to school but admits she’s a little nervous. Neklyudova is also eager to find work and improve her English.

“I am very happy,” Neklyudova said since connecting with Sergey and his family.

“They actually started smiling after being here and connecting with some people in the community and even with our neighbours,” Sergey added.

Neklyudova said she’s thankful with how supportive the community has been since they arrived in Cambridge and hopes she can reunite with her family once things settle in Ukraine.

“I didn’t have hope at all a week ago, but now I do,” she said.

As for the $2,000, there’s little hope of seeing that again.

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End of Manitoba legislature session includes replacement-worker ban, machete rules

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WINNIPEG – Manitoba politicians are expected to pass several bills into law before the likely end of legislature session this evening.

The NDP government, with a solid majority of seats, is getting its omnibus budget bill through.

It enacts tax changes outlined in the spring budget, but also includes unrelated items, such as a ban on replacement workers during labour disputes.

The bill would also make it easier for workers to unionize, and would boost rebates for political campaign expenses.

Another bill expected to pass this evening would place new restrictions on the sale of machetes, in an attempt to crack down on crime.

Among the bills that are not expected to pass this session is one making it harder for landlords to raise rents above the inflation rate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Father charged with second-degree murder in infant’s death: police

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A Richmond Hill, Ont., man has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of his seven-week-old infant earlier this year.

York Regional Police say they were contacted by the York Children’s Aid Society about a child who had been taken to a hospital in Toronto on Jan. 15.

They say the baby had “significant injuries” that could not be explained by the parents.

The infant died three days later.

Police say the baby’s father, 30, was charged with second-degree murder on Oct. 23.

Anyone with more information on the case is urged to contact investigators.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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Ontario fast-tracking several bills with little or no debate

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TORONTO – Ontario is pushing through several bills with little or no debate, which the government house leader says is due to a short legislative sitting.

The government has significantly reduced debate and committee time on the proposed law that would force municipalities to seek permission to install bike lanes when they would remove a car lane.

It also passed the fall economic statement that contains legislation to send out $200 cheques to taxpayers with reduced debating time.

The province tabled a bill Wednesday afternoon that would extend the per-vote subsidy program, which funnels money to political parties, until 2027.

That bill passed third reading Thursday morning with no debate and is awaiting royal assent.

Government House Leader Steve Clark did not answer a question about whether the province is speeding up passage of the bills in order to have an election in the spring, which Premier Doug Ford has not ruled out.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 7, 2024.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.



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