Newcomer Ukrainians in Manitoba welcome work permit deadline extension from federal government

Ukrainian newcomers have another year to apply to extend their work permit, but some say it pushes permanent residency down the road. Joseph Bernacki reports.

Some Ukrainian families in Manitoba who have been living in the province since the war with Russia started are breathing a sigh of relief following a recent announcement by the federal government.

In March 2022, Canada welcomed Ukrainians fleeing the war.

Now, those who arrived under the program—the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET)—will have an extra year to extend their work permits as they wait for permanent residency.

“It is a great first step,” said Slava Dubchenko, president of the non-profit United Ukrainians of Canada group.

“It postpones a little bit some issues and gives a little bit more flexibility for people to stay longer in Canada, but it doesn’t solve the main issue.”

It’s been more than three years since Ivan Kutsak fled the war in Ukraine with his family.

When he’s not volunteering with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, he works full-time as a call dispatcher.

Kutsak said permanent residency has brought stability into his life for the first time in years.

“To be honest, it was really a shock,” Kutsak said, thinking back on receiving his notice in the mail.

It took 18 months for him, all the while working in Winnipeg since October 2022.

He said many people he knows in the city aren’t as fortunate as they continue to wait for their permanent residency notice.

“I know a few families who applied almost the same time like I did, but they are still waiting,” he said on Wednesday.

Dubchenko said Tuesday’s announcement from the federal government doesn’t address the larger issue of attaining permanent residency.

He believes as many as 200,000 Ukrainians in Canada are working on an open work permit that could be cancelled anytime.

“They can’t take the children, take the family, and return back to Ukraine because there is a war,” Dubchenko said.

It’s a cause for the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in Manitoba to continue lobbying the federal government.

Joanne Lewandosky, president of the Manitoba chapter, said Tuesday’s announcement is hopeful for those waiting to find out their future in Canada.

“I am grateful to the minister of immigration for this move; I just hope it can help the thousands of people who need this type of assistance,” Lewandosky said.

CTV News Winnipeg reached out to the federal government for an update on the Ukraine Family Reunification Pathway—a process for Ukrainians who have a family member in Canada to get their permanent residence.

In February 2026, a total of 25,455 people applied through the program, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

A spokesperson from IRCC on Wednesday said as of January 31, 2026, more than 3,250 applicants have been approved for permanent residence, and processing continues for the many individuals who applied.

They said 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.