SASKATOON — Brothers Bohdan and Mykhailo Dumenko, along with Vlad Chonka, rebuilt their lives in Saskatchewan after escaping the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, they now face an uncertain future due to recent changes to the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program that have derailed their pathway to permanent residency.
The three Ukrainian nationals arrived in Canada in 2022 after fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, rebuilding their lives in Saskatoon by finding jobs, establishing ties in the local Ukrainian community and other groups, and complying with all immigration requirements to remain legally in Saskatchewan and continue working.
They joined Saskatchewan NDP MLA for Saskatoon Churchill-Wildwood Keith Jorgenson at a media event on Monday, Feb. 9. Jorgenson added that they have already written to the Immigration and Career Training Ministry to correct the issue and allow affected Ukrainians to remain in the province.
The Dumenko brothers and Chonka, like the estimated 8,000-plus Ukrainians who came under the federal Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) program, assumed that their long-term, renewable work permits would give them time to qualify for provincial nomination. Bohdan works as a delivery driver, Mykhailo as a plumber, and Chonka as a truck driver.
That assumption ended in early January 2026, when the provincial government introduced new SINP rules, intended to manage limited nomination spaces and requiring most applicants to hold a work permit expiring within six months to be eligible. The change has had a disproportionate impact on Ukrainians, whose CUAET permits are specifically designed not to expire in the short term.
The provincial government’s new restrictions on the job approval letter process will prevent employers in key sectors from applying if a worker’s permit is valid for more than six months. This requirement excludes nearly all Ukrainians who arrived under the federal CUAET program because, unlike standard temporary work permits, CUAET permits are intended to be long-term and renewable.
Most Ukrainians arrived under CUAET and do not have permits close to expiry. The Dumenkos said it was upsetting to learn, given that they do not know what will happen tomorrow. They secured employment, paid taxes and renewed their federal status, all of which are requirements. Now they find themselves excluded because they acted responsibly by extending their work permits.
“As soon as you can, apply to extend your immigration status, and you can stay here whenever you want to stay here. Now, I feel pressured and worry that we might have to go back home. It is upsetting. I really enjoyed staying here. I would like to continue to stay here, and I’m not planning to go anywhere else,” said Bohdan.
Bohdan’s brother, Mykhailo, faces a similar dilemma. Under the new rules, renewing his work permit legally delays his ability to apply for permanent residency by years. Allowing it to expire, on the other hand, would risk his legal status in Canada.
“It feels like a gamble. A huge difficulty for me that can have a huge impact as well. I can’t imagine myself in this condition. I believe there are no such people under the basic condition that they will not gamble on their status in Canada. Basically, they will try to continue with their legal status in Canada, and you will gamble, because six months is a pretty small amount,” added Mykhailo.
For Chonka, the uncertainty carries an even heavier emotional toll. He came to Saskatchewan in 2022, leaving behind his young daughter and wife in Ukraine. He has limited communication with his family due to power outages and ongoing danger at home. He had hoped permanent residency would allow him to reunite his family in Canada. That plan is now on hold indefinitely.
The opposition is calling on the provincial government to revise the job approval letter eligibility rules to include individuals holding CUAET work permits, or to remove the requirement that a work permit be close to expiry. Another option would be to create a separate stream for Ukrainian nationals, similar to an approach taken by the Government of Manitoba in September 2025.
Provincial response
In a statement, the provincial government said it understands the anxiety and challenges felt by Ukrainians affected by the changes, especially newcomers as their work permits approach expiration. However, it said it remains committed to supporting displaced Ukrainians as they work toward permanent residency.
The government said the opposition is mischaracterizing the intent and nature of the SINP changes. Due to reduced federal nominations, Saskatchewan has implemented targeted intake windows to ensure individuals in capped sectors with expiring permits who are contributing to the local labour force are given priority, regardless of nationality.
“Due to the federal government’s continued reduction of Provincial Nominee Program allocations, Saskatchewan implemented sector caps to ensure our limited nomination allocation is distributed strategically across all economic sectors. The capped sectors in 2026 are Trucking, Accommodations, Retail Trade, and Food Services,” the statement said.
“Caps are necessary in these sectors as they have historically filled the majority of SINP nominations. Applicants in capped sectors may only apply during the last six months of their work permit’s validity. This policy prioritizes workers who face the most immediate risk of losing immigration status in Canada.”
The government also said claims that CUAET permits require special treatment because they are renewable are incorrect.
“Any Saskatchewan CUAET visa holder whose permit is set to expire within six months and has an application in one of the capped sectors will be eligible to apply for a SINP nomination, similar to any other non-permanent resident,” the statement said.
It added that Saskatchewan has invested more than $2.6 million since 2021-22 to support displaced Ukrainians through community supports, settlement services and employment programs delivered by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.
From March 2022 to April 2025, the UCC handled more than 10,100 requests for assistance, with more than 1,400 language assessments completed and nearly 1,800 referrals made to workforce development or training programs, according to the province.
