Nadia Lemko
An initiative group representing more than 23,000 applicants under the Ukrainian Family Reunification Pathway has turned to Canada’s parliamentary system in a bid to spur government action. The group, working with families who applied through the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program and the subsequent reunification stream, says the current backlog and processing delays are unacceptable.
According to data compiled by the group, fewer than 400 of the 23,000 applications have received final decisions. During routine proceedings in the House of Commons on October 23, 2025, MP Dave Epp presented a formal petition on behalf of the Ukrainian-Canadian community, calling on Ottawa to expedite application processing and establish a “one-time permanent residency pathway” for Ukrainians living in Canada under CUAET.
“Since 2023, the family reunification pathway for Ukrainians has seen an abysmal approval rate of just 1.6%. Fewer than 400 of the more than 23,000 applications have received final decisions,”
— MP Dave Epp, speaking in the House of Commons.
Grassroots Campaign Finds a Parliamentary Champion
The petition effort was initiated by members of the Ukrainian-Canadian diaspora. Organizer Volodymyr Palagniuk said the idea arose after repeated attempts to raise the issue with the Immigration Minister and Ukrainian-Canadian MPs failed to yield a meaningful response.
During the Ukrainian Independence Festival, volunteers from the Vyshyvanka Association gathered signatures and connected with MP Dave Epp (Chatham-Kent—Leamington), who agreed to sponsor and present the petition in Parliament. The document calls on the government to present a clear plan ensuring that Ukrainians are not left waiting decades for decisions — a scenario that, at the current pace, could take up to 66 years.
A Call for Urgent Action
By being tabled in the House of Commons, the petition now obliges the government to issue an official response within 45 days, creating a formal mechanism for accountability.
The petition urges the government to take two immediate steps:
- Prioritize and expedite family reunification applications for displaced Ukrainians.
- Establish a dedicated, one-time pathway to permanent residence for CUAET holders and their families who currently fall outside existing immigration categories.
Human Impact Behind the Numbers
Beyond administrative inefficiencies, the stakes are profoundly human. Thousands of Ukrainian families who fled Russia’s full-scale invasion and found refuge in Canada are now living in uncertainty. Lengthy processing times undermine their ability to rebuild their lives and contradict the spirit of solidarity Canada pledged when it launched the CUAET program in 2022.
As Palagniuk noted: “After fleeing Russia’s brutal war, hardworking families deserve certainty — not years of waiting.”
A Voice on the National Stage
The tabling of this petition marks a critical step in bringing the issue before Parliament and ensuring a formal government reply. For the Ukrainian-Canadian community, it represents a turning point — transforming grassroots frustration into institutional advocacy.
Whether Ottawa will meet the petitioners’ demands — particularly the creation of a new permanent residency pathway — remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the Ukrainian-Canadian community has ensured that its message is heard loud and clear on the national stage.
Photo Caption
MP Dave Epp of Chatham-Kent—Leamington in the House of Commons of Canada on October 23, 2025.
