Initiated by: Man Kiu Lee from Toronto, Ontario
Whereas:
Canada has a longstanding humanitarian tradition of assisting people affected by crises through special immigration pathways. PR pathways were established for Hongkongers, Sudanese and Ukrainians
Applicants of the pathways face a 62,000-application backlog (35,000 Hong Kong, 20,000 Ukraine, 7,000 Sudan), resulting in projected wait times exceeding ten years, among the longest processing times across Canada’s PR programs
The 2026 Immigration Levels Plan allocates only 5,800 admissions to the three pathways, and falling further to just 4,000 annually in both 2027 and 2028
These applicants are already living, working or studying in Canada, and granting them PR would reduce the temporary resident population without creating significant new demand for housing, education, healthcare or public infrastructure
Canada’s population recently shrank by over 234,000 over three consecutive quarters starting in mid-2025
Canada is experiencing an economic slowdown and PM Carney has attributed this partly to lower immigration. Studies have shown that sustainable immigration plays an important role in long-term economic performance
Clearing the backlog would eliminate IRCC’s administrative burden of processing approximately 186,000 work and study permit renewals.
History:
Open for signature: August 6, 2026
Closed for signature: October 5, 2026
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