Newcomers Fleeing Crisis are Helping Canada’s Economy. Why is it Taking So Long For Them to Get PR?

A few weeks ago, the Toronto Star reported that 575,025 people who arrived in Canada after being impacted by war and natural disasters since 2022, have been issued temporary resident permits. Very few (8,465) have made refugee claims.

This might come as a surprise to many, given the strong public narrative that programs to assist those in dire straits don’t encourage economic immigration.  

In most cases, the people who come to Canada from these countries never dreamed they would end up here. They had lives, jobs and homes in their own country. However, now that life has changed and they find themselves in Canada, most want to stay and contribute their talents to the Canadian job market. 

Ukrainians in Canada  

Refugees are not considered economic immigrants. They often arrive in Canada through government or private sponsorship. People who arrive in Canada due to a crisis, such as those from Gaza, Iran, Sudan, Ukraine, or Morocco (to name a few), are not sponsored. Generally, they arrive as temporary residents under public policies, giving them the ability to work in Canada.  

In recent years, the biggest group to arrive was Ukrainians through the Canada Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) public policy. Around 300,000 arrived in Canada between the program’s implementation in 2022 and its end in 2024.  

With CUAET, Canada did something different. They were given three-year visitor visas and could also apply for an open work permit at the same time, free of charge. Those who also had an immediate family member in Canada were also granted an immediate pathway to permanent residency.  

A 2023 report by Operation Ukraine Safe Haven found that 68% of CUAET arrivals intended to enter Canada’s workforce, and 47% had found employment within a month of arrival. Furthermore, 92% of CUAET participants planned to apply for permanent residency.  

However, the transition from temporary resident to permanent resident has been slow for CUAET participants. To assist, IRCC says that anyone who arrived in Canada on or before March 31, 2024, under CUAET has until March 31, 2026, to renew their work permit or apply for a new open work or study permit from within Canada. This doesn’t guarantee approval, though.  

Canada’s Commitment to Reducing Immigration Levels  

Here’s the problem. No matter what program or temporary measures newcomers arrived under, they face an uphill battle to become permanent residents and can’t go home. This has led to frustration and stress for many who wish to stay in Canada and contribute.   

Part of the problem is that there has been an overall reduction in the number of permanent residents Canada admits each year. This year, permanent resident admissions are capped at 380,000. 

Ultimately, it seems like Canada is backtracking on it’s promise of refuge. Without any assurances of permanent residency, it’s impossible for them to know what the future holds. It’s difficult to feel safe when you might be asked to leave at any time. 

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress says that CUAET visa holders are constantly facing instability because they may lose their jobs due to uncertainty about their ability to legally work in Canada. 

Temporary Resident Reduction  

To add to their stress, Canada also announced its intention to reduce the number of temporary residents to less than 5% of Canada’s overall population by the end of 2027.   

There are a few ways you may be able to stay in Canada if your work permit is expiring

If people who arrived from crisis situations don’t necessarily meet the criteria for an economic immigration program such as Express Entry, the Provincial Nominee Program, or a regional immigration program like the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, that doesn’t leave many options. All they can really do is keep extending their work permits or study permits and hope for the best. 

 TR to PR Transition Program  

The light at the end of the tunnel right now is a recently launched (or rather, quietly enacted) program that aims to grant permanent resident status to 33,000 temporary foreign workers by the end of 2027. The first mention of the new measure was in the 2026 Immigration Levels Plan, and specifically said it would focus on those who already have strong roots in Canada and are contributing to the economy by paying taxes.   

However, there is little information available about the measure. No data is available on who is being selected, which programs they are from, or how long it will take IRCC to process their PR applications. More information is expected in April.