A new parliamentary petition has been filed in Canada that directly concerns Ukrainians who are still awaiting a decision on their applications for permanent residence.
This pertains to people who managed to submit their applications under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway program before it closed on October 22, 2024. For many of them, this has long since ceased to be merely an “immigration process”; it is now a matter of stability, employment, family, plans for the future, and the opportunity to finally know where they will build their lives going forward.
The petition is registered on the official website of the House of Commons of Canada under number e-7624. It was initiated by Serhiy Rafalyuk of Etobicoke, Ontario. The petition is supported by Member of Parliament Yvan Baker of Etobicoke Centre.
What Is the Petition About?
The petition’s authors point out that, following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Canada opened its doors to Ukrainians who were forced to seek a safe place to live.
Since then, many Ukrainians in Canada have begun working, studying, paying taxes, raising children, and becoming part of local communities. However, some people who applied for permanent residency (PR) through the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway have still not received a final decision.
It is this uncertainty that has become the main reason for the petition.
The document notes that the long wait prevents families from planning for the future, creates difficulties for employers who want to retain employees who are already integrated, and undermines trust in the transparency and effectiveness of the immigration system.
What the Petitioners Are Asking of the Canadian Government
The petition calls on the Canadian government not merely to “take note” of the problem, but to take several concrete steps.
Among the main demands are:
- to create and publish a clear plan with deadlines for finalizing all applications submitted under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway before the program closes;
- allocate sufficient staff, resources, and processing capacity to eliminate unnecessary delays;
- publish quarterly data on the number of applications received, pending, approved, and refused;
- provide applicants with clear and accessible information about the status of their cases;
- maintain existing temporary statuses, work permits, and study permits for eligible applicants and their family members until a final decision is made;
- publicly report to Parliament on progress until the main backlog of applications has been substantially cleared.
In other words, the petition does not call for the elimination of checks or the automatic approval of all applications. On the contrary, the text specifically emphasizes that the process must maintain all requirements regarding security, medical, criminality, and admissibility checks.
The main focus is on transparency, a humane approach, and clear timelines.
Why This Is Important for Ukrainians in Canada
For many Ukrainian families, the situation with PR applications has become a protracted period of uncertainty.
People are already living in Canada, working, paying taxes, renting homes, sending their children to school, building careers, and gradually integrating into their communities. But without a final decision on permanent residence, they remain in limbo.
This affects their long-term plans: buying a home, changing jobs, pursuing education, starting a business, moving to another province, reuniting with family, and feeling secure.
That is why the petition’s authors emphasize: people who have submitted their applications legally and met all requirements deserve timely decisions, clear information, and fair administrative treatment.
When to Sign the Petition
Petition e-7624 is open for signatures from July 31, 2026 to August 30, 2026.
Canadian citizens and residents who support calling on the government to expedite and increase transparency in the processing of Ukrainians’ applications for permanent residence may sign it.
It is important to understand that the petition itself does not automatically change immigration rules. However, if it garners the necessary support, the issue will be formally brought before Parliament and will require a response from the government.
https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details? Petition=e-7624&fbclid=PARlRTSATbrC9wZG9mAmV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABpxWBQU7KI3de21O8AK5JtR40f_mcphaeKG -xb9dCJJdOCEFAM3dYWP9gj7ir_aem_k4AbPuDeKFpxNNPMoVL3nw
What Does This Mean Now
The emergence of such a petition shows that the issue of Ukrainians waiting for permanent residency remains relevant and is now reaching the political level.
This is not a new immigration program, nor is it a guarantee of a quick resolution for every applicant. But it is a tool through which the Ukrainian community and concerned Canadians can officially draw the government’s attention to the delays, the lack of transparent timelines, and the need for a more humane approach.
For those awaiting a decision under the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway, this petition can be a way to support the call for a clear plan, transparent communication, and tangible progress in the processing of cases.