As the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine looms, war-displaced Ukrainians looking to make Canada their permanent home have few answers about what the government will do to allow them to stay.

Russia害羞草研究所檚 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began two years ago on Feb. 24, caused a massive refugee crisis as million of Ukrainians fled the country.

Since then, the federal government has granted 958,190 temporary emergency visas to Ukrainians so they can work or study in Canada while they wait out the violence at home.

As of Jan. 27, 221,231 had already made the journey to Canada.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he met with one of those families in Winnipeg recently, and spoke to them about how they are settling in Canada and their long-term prospects in Canada.

害羞草研究所淭heir middle son was really finding it tough here in Canada, but the older son made a great group of friends,害羞草研究所� Trudeau told a news conference Tuesday in Vancouver.

But when asked about whether Ottawa is making long-term arrangements for people that have settled in Canada, Trudeau would only say that his Liberal government is 害羞草研究所渇ocused on ending this war.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 think a lot of people are going to be making decisions once this war draws to a close,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚n the meantime, we害羞草研究所檙e going to continue to be there to support people going through unbelievably difficult times because of Vladimir Putin害羞草研究所檚 heinous actions.害羞草研究所�

Of those recent arrivals, 92 per cent plan to stay and seek permanent residency, according to a survey of emergency visa holders conducted late last year by Operation Ukraine Safe Haven and the federal Immigration Department.

Only 1.4 per cent said they plan to return to Ukraine.

Without a designated program, many won害羞草研究所檛 qualify for regular immigration streams, said Randall Baran-Chong, founder of Pathfinder for Ukraine, a group that has helped war-displaced Ukrainians navigate Canada害羞草研究所檚 immigration system since the invasion.

Some people have applied as refugees and on humanitarian grounds 害羞草研究所� criteria which are not designed to accommodate such a large group of people who are already in Canada, Baran-Chong said.

害羞草研究所淎 lot of Ukrainians right now are in a very difficult situation,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淲e want to give them a dignified pathway to permanent residency, rather than these programs that are befitting other circumstances.害羞草研究所�

Baran-Chong害羞草研究所檚 organization launched a petition to call for a designated program to offer permanent residency to war-displaced Ukrainians in Canada, and has asked Liberal MP Ali Ehsassi, chair of the House of Commons foreign affairs committee, to table it in the House of Commons.

Once that happens, the government must respond within 45 days.

害羞草研究所淲e feel like this petition will give us an opportunity for the Ukrainians to hear from government what is their official response on a specified pathway to permanent residency,害羞草研究所� he said.

The government is allowing people with emergency visas to apply to extend them, and has also created a program that offers permanent status in Canada to people with Canadian family members.

Meanwhile, the government plans to put more than $475,000 toward expanding a legal advice hotline for war-displaced Ukrainians in Canada to help them understand their rights and navigate the immigration system.

害羞草研究所淭his substantial contribution connects Ukrainians seeking refuge in Canada with lawyers who can help them with issues such as sponsorship, refugee claims, and work permit questions,害羞草研究所� Justice Minister Arif Virani said Tuesday.

The hotline, run by Pro Bono Ontario, fields questions related to work permits, employment contracts and even landlord and tenant concerns. The new funds will allow the Ontario hotline to serve Ukrainians across the country.

Increasingly, however, the questions it fields are about immigration and options to stay in Canada.

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