Winnipeg nonprofit calling on feds to help Ukrainians acquire permanent residency

A nonprofit organization is sounding the alarm to the federal government to create a special pathway for Ukrainians to acquire permanent residency.

They say around 200,000 Ukrainians who first came when the war began continue to work and build their lives here today. But many fear that under the current PR requirements, they don’t have a future in Canada.

One of those who moved to Winnipeg, fleeing the war, was Yevhenni Shokin.

Shokin has been living in Winnipeg for three years now, and has been working full-time in construction, and wants to make Canada his permanent home; however, he’s facing a massive hurdle.

“It’s really difficult because Ukrainians didn’t prepare for this, because we didn’t know this way had started, you know, and we don’t have a special program for Ukrainians,” said Shokin.

Slava Dubchenko with the United Ukrainians of Canada Foundation says the current system favours immigrants who planned to come to Canada, but not for people like Shokin, who fled their country on a moment’s notice.

“Ukrainians were pushed to leave their homes and try to find some peace in Canada,” said Dubchenko.

“Many of them don’t have the education that Canada seeks for permanent residents, many of them don’t have English at the level that Canada requires in the immigration process.”

Lisa Filipenko came to Canada in 2023 and has faced a number of challenges, like Shokin.

“The system of points is so hard, first of all, about English, because some people don’t know English so well,” Filipenko explained.

Both Shokin and Filipenko are among 25,000 people who have signed a letter to be sent to federal representatives, including Winnipeg North MP Kevin Lamoureux, who has been vocal in supporting the issue they are facing.

“There are millions of people who left Ukraine because of Russia’s illegal invasion, and thousands of them came to Canada. Today, many of the settlers would like to become permanent residents, and between nominee certificates and the possibility of extensions, Governments working together could provide more opportunities,” said Lamoureux.

A statement from Canada’s immigration minister reads in part, “In response to exceptional situations, the government created an additional pathway for permanent residency for the people of Ukraine.  However, the demand for this program has far outweighed the number of spaces available.”

Before adding, “Well over 2,490 applicants under the pathway have already become permanent residents, and processing continues for the many individuals who submitted an application. Ukrainians in Canada who didn’t apply or weren’t eligible for this pathway may still be able to become permanent residents through IRCC’s regular programs.”

But for Dubchenko, it isn’t enough.

“200,000 people who are now in Canada, and who can’t get permanent residency,” said Dubchenko.