On October 15, 2025, the House of Commons of Canada officially registered e-petition e-6866, which calls on the government to introduce a one-time special pathway to permanent resident (PR) status for Ukrainians and others who are in Canada under temporary humanitarian programs, including CUAET (Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel).
UPD (October 16, 2025): Important information for temporary residents!
For the purposes of signing petitions, the term “resident of Canada” is understood to mean any person who is physically present in Canada. Therefore, temporary residents (including individuals under the CUAET program, with work and study permits) are eligible to sign petitions.
If you are in Canada legally, you can sign this petition!
The petition is supported by Member of Parliament Yvan Baker from the Etobicoke Centre constituency (Liberal Party of Canada). It was initiated by John Stadnyk from Calgary, Alberta.
What is the petition about?
The petition proposes to create a one-time opportunity for legalization for those who:
- Arrived in Canada under the CUAET program or similar temporary humanitarian measures.
- Have been legally residing, working, paying taxes, and integrating into Canadian society for several years.
- Do not have access to regular immigration programs due to quota restrictions, age barriers, or “non-priority” occupations.
Why is this important?
Ukrainians have already become part of Canada
Thousands of Ukrainians who arrived under the CUAET program in 2022–2023 are now:
- Working in a wide variety of industries, from healthcare and construction to IT and education.
- Paying taxes and filling critical labor shortages in many regions of Canada.
- Integrating into local communities: their children attend Canadian schools, they learn the language, volunteer, and build social connections.
However, many of them are in legal limbo because CUAET is a temporary status and access to traditional immigration programs is limited or impossible due to:
- Reduced immigration quotas in 2025–2026
- Age restrictions (especially for Express Entry)
- Lack of work experience in “priority” occupations
There is a precedent: the program for Hong Kong residents
In 2021, Canada introduced two special pathways to permanent residency for young Hong Kong residents who were in Canada on work or study permits. The program allowed thousands of people to legalize their status without complicated procedures.
Petition e-6866 calls for a similar approach to be applied to Ukrainians and other individuals under humanitarian programs.
What criteria does the petition propose?
The petition is not a bill and does not establish strict rules. It proposes approximate criteria for discussion:
Basic requirements:
- Residence in Canada: at least 3 years out of the last 4 years.
- Canadian work experience:
- 1 year in a critical profession (healthcare, construction, transportation, etc.), OR
- 2 years in any legal employment or self-employment.
- Current economic activity: a job offer or self-employment.
- Basic language and education requirements:
- Language level: CELPIP 4–5 (basic communication level).
- Minimum secondary education.
- Integration indicators (at least one):
- Children attending Canadian schools
- Relatives in Canada
- Taking courses or training
- Volunteer work
Important: these criteria are only a proposal for discussion by the government. The final conditions may differ.
How do e-petitions work in Canada?
According to House of Commons Procedure and Practice (Chapter 22 — Public Petitions):
- Petitions are open for signature for 120 days.
- At least 500 valid signatures are required for official consideration.
- Once the threshold is reached, the petition is submitted to the House of Commons for discussion.
- Petitions have no legal force, but they are an important tool for influencing parliament and the government.
The more signatures, the louder the signal to the authorities about the need for a fair decision.
How to sign a petition? (step by step)
Step 1: Go to the petition page
👉 https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-6866
Step 2: Click the “Sign” button
Enter the required information:
- First and last name
- Email address
- Canadian mailing address (for citizens and residents only)
Step 3: Confirm your signature via email
- After filling out the form, you will receive a confirmation email.
- Without confirmation, your signature will not be counted.
- The email may arrive in a few minutes — check your spam folder.
Time to sign: about 2 minutes.
Why does your signature matter?
Each signature on the petition is:
✅ Someone's safe tomorrow night ✅ Someone's first mortgage
✅ Someone's child going to school in peace ✅ Someone's opportunity to plan for the future without fear of deportation
This is not just a petition. This is a story about people who call Canada home and expect the state to reciprocate.
Summary
Petition e-6866 is a chance for thousands of Ukrainians to receive a fair and humane decision from the Canadian government. It does not guarantee automatic PR, but it is an important step toward having the issue heard at the highest level.
Support the petition today. Your signature matters.