Pedestrians walk along darkened streets in Kyiv following Russian attacks on energy infrastructure that caused blackouts on Jan. 13.GENYA SAVILOV/AFP/Getty Images
John Weston is a government relations and communications expert, former member of Parliament, and president of Pan Pacific Solutions Ltd.
The recent news from Ukraine has deepened the sense of loathing many of us feel toward Vladimir Putin and his government. In the past few weeks, Russia’s bombardment of Kyiv has deliberately targeted civilian infrastructure, leaving at times roughly one-third of the city without power, in winter. These are calculated acts of cruelty to make life unbearable for ordinary Ukrainians.
Against that backdrop, Canadians heard that Prime Minister Mark Carney met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Halifax in late December, pledging a further $2.5-billion in economic aid. That commitment matters. But for shivering Kyiv residents, it was cold comfort. And for Ukrainians in Canada under temporary status, it may feel like cold comfort, too.
My family claims no Ukrainian background, but like many Canadians, we’ve sheltered many Ukrainians since the war began. Each of the six we hosted were industrious, resilient, grateful believers in Canada.
More than 304,000 Ukrainian nationals are currently in Canada under Canada–Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET), the extraordinary program created after Russia’s 2022 invasion. CUAET granted temporary status, along with the right to work and study. But it was never designed to provide permanence. Those Ukrainians now face an uncertain horizon: Their special measures wind down in March, 2026. Happily, the Canadian government is open to their applying by then for a new open work permit valid for up to three years, renewing an existing work permit, or applying for a new study permit.
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But at some point, Ukrainians in Canada will have to rely on standard immigration pathways, or leave. Canada can, and should, do better, in a way that strengthens our support for Ukraine, aligns with our evolving immigration priorities, reflects the values we defend and provides certainty for unsettled Ukrainians among us.
According to recent announcements by Immigration Minister Lena Diab, Ottawa is prioritizing permanent residence for people who are already in Canada, especially those who have lived here, worked here and made an economic contribution. That policy shift makes sense. It’s efficient, economically rational and humane.
It also fits perfectly with the circumstances of many CUAET Ukrainians, many of whom are now firmly embedded in Canadian communities, working, paying taxes, learning English or French and enrolling their children in Canadian schools. They’re doing what we ask of newcomers. Yet they remain, by design, temporary.
Canada should establish a targeted, time-limited pathway to permanent residence for eligible CUAET holders, a focused pilot program delivered federally, under existing ministerial authority, without the need for new regulations.
Such a program should be disciplined and defensible. Eligibility would be limited to Ukrainians who entered Canada under CUAET by March 31, 2024; maintained legal status; and can demonstrate at least six months of full-time work, or its equivalent. Modest language thresholds would apply. Applications would be accepted only within a fixed intake window, underscoring that this is an exceptional response to exceptional circumstances, not an open-ended program.
This initiative should be carried out federally, not by provincial nominee programs, which would add complexity, delay and political friction. Quebec’s distinct immigration jurisdiction would require consultation and co-ordination.
A rally in Montreal in February, 2025, attracts supporters of the Ukrainian people.Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press
Such a program would not undermine Ukraine’s war effort. The Ukrainian government understandably wants able-bodied citizens to return to defend their country. How can Canada reasonably frame continued residence for some Ukrainians as a strategic extension of allied support?
Ukrainians in Canada contribute to the war effort through remittances, fundraising, political advocacy and long-term planning for reconstruction. People such as the ones we’ve sheltered create vital support for their beleaguered country. A stable Ukrainian diaspora will be indispensable when the war ends and rebuilding begins. Supporting Ukrainians who fled here, while continuing robust military and economic assistance abroad, is not contradictory. It’s coherent.
The cost to Canada would be modest and time-bound. The benefits would be substantial. Canada would retain skilled and motivated workers, expand its tax base, and reduce the administrative churn of repeatedly extending temporary permits. The federal government would demonstrate that its immigration policy is both principled and pragmatic. And Ukrainians who have already begun building lives here would gain stability, dignity, and the chance to contribute fully.
As Mr. Putin’s missiles rain down on Ukrainian cities, leaving hundreds of thousands in darkness and cold, Canada can offer more than financial aid. We can offer hope, stability and a future to Ukrainians who have already chosen to build their lives here and contribute to our country. That would be warm comfort indeed – for them, for Ukraine, and for Canada’s proud tradition of standing against tyranny whenever we can.