Photo credit: the Globe and Mail
Ottawa should open a permanent residency pathway for Ukrainians who came to Canada through a special visa program launched after Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress said on Wednesday.
CTV News reports that the CEO of the congress, Ihor Michatchyshyn, said his organization presented a policy proposal to the immigration ministry in October, modelled on an active permanent residency program for Hongkongers in Canada.
The proposal calls for immigration Minister Lena Diab to open a temporary permanent residency pathway for people with a Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) visa.
The federal government opened a one-year permanent residency pathway to Ukrainian visa holders in October 2023, but only for those who had a family member with Canadian citizenship or permanent residency.
The UCC proposal this time would not include those caveats.
Currently, CUAET visa holders who arrived in Canada before March 31, 2024, have until March 31 to apply for a three-year extension to their work or study permit.
In addition to a permanent residency pathway, the UCC wants the federal government to increase the number of Provincial Nominee Program slots so individual provinces and territories can nominate people for permanent residency based on local economic needs.
However, a spokesperson from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said in an emailed response that the department cannot speculate on future policy decisions.
