Extend TS2023 temporary status
Petitioners ask that TS2023 beneficiaries and dependants be allowed 36-month extensions of temporary status and open work permits at standard fees, receive interim work authorization while applications are processed, and have children's best interests considered.
Why we would sign this petition
- Provides families with 36 months of continued status and work authorization, reducing disruption for children settled in Canadian schools.
- Enables TS2023 participants to remain employed, pursue credentials and improve language skills, supporting household income and labour needs.
- Acknowledges humanitarian hardship by avoiding a second displacement for families who lost homes or loved ones in the earthquakes.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Extending special measures will increase administrative workload and costs and may require resources beyond current processing capacity.
- A time-limited extension for one group could raise fairness concerns from other temporary policy beneficiaries seeking similar treatment.
- Allowing applications beyond the usual 90‑day restoration window may complicate status compliance and create legal or enforcement challenges.
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: Following the February 6, 2023 earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, Canada introduced temporary public policy measures (TS2023) allowing eligible Turkish and Syrian nationals in Canada to obtain open work permits valid for up to three years; only the application deadline was later extended, to January 3, 2024, and the validity of permits already issued was not extended; In a 2026 community survey of 293 TS2023 households (743 members), 80.2% report that their nearest TS2023-related permit has already expired or will expire by the end of 2026; The same households report strong ties to Canada: 76.5% have at least one adult working full-time, 90.4% filed a 2025 Canadian tax return, 61.8% are families with children, 209 of 280 children aged 0 to 17 are in education, and 63 children were born in Canada; Many of these families lost homes and loved ones in the earthquakes, recovery in the affected region remains incomplete, and a loss of status in Canada would be a second major disruption, particularly for children now settled in Canadian schools; TS2023 participants work in sectors including construction, healthcare, transportation, information technology, education and hospitality, and many would benefit from additional time to upskill, obtain relevant credentials, improve language proficiency, and gain further Canadian work experience; We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Allow individuals who benefited from the TS2023 special measures, including spouses, dependent children, and individuals who were dependent children at the time of their family's original TS2023 application but have since ceased to qualify as dependants, to apply at standard fees for a further 36 months of temporary resident status and, where applicable, open work authorization, and establish a mechanism for those whose permits or status have already expired, including beyond the usual 90-day restoration period; 2. Provide interim work authorization to individuals applying under the proposed TS2023 extension measures, including those whose previous work permits have expired, while their applications are being processed; and 3. Give full consideration to the best interests of affected children, including Canadian-born children, in any decision concerning TS2023.
Government response
No government response is available yet.