Calls to make ‘special pathway’ for Ukrainians to settle in Canada

Thousands of Ukrainians who left their homes to escape the war now face an uncertain future in Canada. CTV’s Danton Unger has the latest.

After fleeing the war in Ukraine and making a new home in Canada, an advocacy group worries thousands of Ukrainians now face an uncertain future.

As Yuliia Korytnik looks through photos of her family in Ukraine, the memories she has there feel like a lifetime ago.

“It’s hard,” she said. “I miss my family. I worry about my family, about my parents.”

Korytnik fled her home in Kyiv in 2023 to escape the Russian invasion. She came to Winnipeg through the federal government’s Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel Program (CUAET).

Now, nearly three years later, Korytnik said she’s created a life here.

“I like Canada. I like Winnipeg, and it’s my home,” she said, adding she is working to get her permanent residence. Until then, Korytnik is considered a temporary resident living in Canada on an open work permit that could be cancelled at any time.

“We think there are roughly 200,000 Ukrainians in such a situation,” said Slava Dubchenko, the president of a non-profit volunteer organization, United Ukrainians of Canada.

Dubchenko has first-hand experience, he immigrated to Canada more than 10 years ago. But he said for Ukrainians fleeing the war, it can be difficult to get their permanent residence.

He said many had to leave their homes without any preparation, knowing little to no English, or having limited education.

The federal government created the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway – a process for Ukrainians who have a family member in Canada to get their permanent residence. A total of 25,455 people applied through the program, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

More than 2,490 applicants have already become permanent residents through this program.

However, Dubchenko called for more support for the Ukrainians who were not eligible for the Family Reunification Pathway – people like Korytnik.

That’s why he is calling on Ottawa to step in.

“We would like the federal government (to) make a special pathway for Ukrainians,” he said.

So far, Dubchenko said more than 25,000 Canadians have written letters to their MPs calling for more support. The goal is to have 100,000 letters written.

“That’s Canadian citizens asking the government, please leave Ukrainians here in Canada. Give them permanent resident status.”

On Monday, those calls made it to the House of Commons. Winnipeg North MP Kevin Lamoureux presented a petition, calling for the government to work with the provinces to retain Ukrainians, giving them the opportunity to become permanent residents.

The IRCC told CTV News Ukrainians who came to Canada through the CUAET program can apply to have their stays extended for up to three years. The deadline for applications is the end of March.

It said while those applications are being processed, those who have applied have ‘maintained status’ – meaning as long as they don’t leave the country, they will maintain their legal status.

“When it is safe to do so, we expect many Ukrainians may wish to return home. For now, a pause on removals remains in effect for Ukraine—a recognition of the ongoing war,” an IRCC spokesperson said in a written statement to CTV News.

“Canada’s support for the people of Ukraine remains steadfast.”

Korytnik is applying for a CUAET extension, which will give her another three years here in Canada. But she hopes this will be her home for many more years to come.

“I proudly call (Canada home),” she said.