Retain Ukrainian settlers as permanent residents
Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to collaborate with provinces to retain Ukrainian settlers as permanent residents and reaffirm Canada’s humanitarian protection. The government responds that CUAET, a family reunification pathway and extended temporary-status measures have assisted Ukrainians and provinces may use PNPs while IRCC monitors.
Why we would sign this petition
- Gives eligible Ukrainian settlers a clear route to permanent residence via provincial nominations, securing legal status and long-term stability for families.
- Reaffirms Canada’s humanitarian commitments and recognizes the contributions of Ukrainian newcomers and the diaspora.
- Helps local labour markets and communities retain experienced residents who are already employed and integrated.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- May conflict with PNP rules and fairness because provincial nominations must follow economic criteria and avoid nationality-based selection.
- Could divert limited immigration processing capacity or resources from other refugees or economic applicants, creating trade-offs.
- Is redundant with existing federal measures (CUAET, family pathways, PNPs) and may be unnecessary if current programs suffice.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA WHEREAS •Manitoba has a long-standing history of welcoming Ukrainian settlers, with Ukrainian newcomers having made significant contributions to the social, cultural, and economic life of the province; •The Government of Manitoba has shown a strong interest in supporting and retaining Ukrainian settlers as valued members of the province's communities; •Many Ukrainian settlers in Canada came here to escape conflict or instability due to the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine. They have since settled down, found employment, supported local economies, and integrated into their communities and Canadian society; •Allowing Ukrainian settlers to remain in Canada, where provinces are supportive, would honour Canada's humanitarian commitments. WE, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada, to: •Collaborate with the Provincial Government of Manitoba and other Provincial Governments that express an interest in retaining Ukrainian settlers as permanent residents; •Reaffirm Canada's commitment to humanitarian protection and the strong relationship between Canada and the Ukrainian diaspora.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Signed by PETER FRAGISKATOS, M.P. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Canada implemented a number of special measures to assist Ukrainians outside and inside Canada. These included the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) measures, which provided Ukrainians and their immediate family members overseas with the opportunity to apply for a fee-exempt visitor visa and open work permit by July 15, 2023. CUAET visa holders who arrived in Canada by March 31, 2024, could apply for fee-exempt study permits, open work permits and an extended stay for up to three years. Through these measures, Canada has welcomed approximately 307 000 Ukrainians and their family members who sought temporary safety in Canada due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The CUAET was always intended to be a temporary measure, with the long-term goal of allowing Ukrainians to return home and help rebuild their country, when it is safe to do so. As announced on February 27, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has extended some temporary in-Canada measures until March 31, 2026, to allow Ukrainians and their family members who arrived in Canada under the CUAET measures to continue to work and study here while the conflict in Ukraine continues. Canada’s response also included implementing a special family reunification pathway to facilitate permanent residence for Ukrainians in Canada who are immediate or extended family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. This pathway opened in October 2023 and closed in October 2024. More than 25,000 people applied through the family reunification pathway. Over 3,200 applicants have been approved under the permanent residence pathway, and processing continues for the many individuals who submitted an application. To ensure that those who applied to the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway can maintain their status in Canada while their permanent resident application is in progress, on January 16, 2026, IRCC launched a new public policy that facilitates extension or restoration of their temporary resident status. Eligible individuals will have until March 31, 2027, to apply for a new study permit or open work permit, or an extension of their work permit while their permanent residence application is being processed. Eligible individuals who have been out-of-status for more than 90 days will also have until March 31, 2026, to restore their temporary residence status under this measure. We continue to monitor the situation in the region and evaluate how our immigration programs can best support Ukrainians. Ukrainians who wish to immigrate to Canada permanently can still apply for permanent residence through various existing immigration programs and streams, including economic pathways and through family sponsorship. The provincial Government of Manitoba and other provincial and territorial governments (except Quebec and Nunavut) could use their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) to nominate eligible Ukrainian candidates. The PNP is a jointly administered immigration program in which provinces and territories nominate foreign nationals who meet existing program economic criteria, provided that non-economic factors (e.g., nationality) are not part of the eligibility assessment. IRCC works collaboratively with provincial and territorial governments on the design of immigration pathways, however, provincial and territorial governments are entirely responsible for the implementation of their program, including all decisions around the selection and nomination of candidates for permanent residence. As we approach the four-year anniversary of Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, IRCC remains committed to supporting Ukrainians and acknowledges the contributions Ukrainians have made for Canada. We remain committed to working with provincial, territorial and community partners in supporting those affected by the ongoing conflict, while supporting a return to sustainable immigration levels.