Vegreville News Advertiser - April 19, 2023

Alberta Helping Ukrainian Drivers

Alberta Government Announces Help for Ukrainian Evacuees in Getting Their Alberta Class Five Driver’s Licence

Rosanne Fortier -News Correspondent

At a press conference on April 14 hosted by Hi-Way Registries in Vegreville, Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, announced that Alberta is continuing to support Ukrainian evacuees by making it easier to exchange their Ukraine driver’s licence for an Alberta Class Five Licence.

“Alberta’s government has established a one-year driver’s licence exchange program for Ukrainian evacuees holding a Category B, (passenger vehicles) or BE, (passenger vehicles with a trailer) driver’s license. We are helping Ukrainian evacuees exchange their licence so they can integrate easier into Alberta to help them get new jobs and a fresh start. This change demonstrates Alberta’s commitment and compassion to the people of Ukraine.”

Alberta Government Officials, Vegreville Town Council members, Ukrainian newcomers and attendees gather for a photo.

(Rosanne Fortier/Photo)

Honourable MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, who is the Parliamentary Secretary for Ukrainian Refugee Settlement and Advisor Council on Alberta Ukraine Relations, commented, “I am proud that Alberta has joined other Canadian jurisdictions in assisting evacuees by exchanging Ukrainian Category B and BE driver’s licences for Class Five passenger driver’s licences.

”Oleksandr Danyleiko, Counsul General of Ukraine in Edmonton added that they are grateful to the Government of Alberta for making the process of obtaining Alberta’s driver license easier for Ukrainians. “It is very important for Ukrainians coming here to Alberta to get a job as soon as possible, to obtain means of living and without a driver licence sometimes it is very difficult or even impossible.”

Some quick facts that were written in an Alberta Government Press Release on April 14, 2023 read:.

Over 23,000 Ukraine evacuees have arrived in Alberta..

In the 2022 calendar year, 2,590 Ukraine evacuees obtained an Alberta Class Five driver’s licence. .

So far in 2023, approximately 2,300 Ukraine evacuees have obtained an Alberta Class Five driver’s licence. .

The exchange program will save Ukraine evacuees approximately $200 on driver testing.

L-R: Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, receives a token of appreciation from Mayor of Vegreville Tim MacPhee and Oleksandr Danyleiko joining in the photo.

(Rosanne Fortier/Photo)