500-km Toronto-to-Ottawa March Garners Widespread Canadian Media Attention as Earthquake Survivors Demand Work Permit Extensions
A 500-km march from Toronto to Ottawa by a Turkish mother demanding work permit extensions for earthquake survivors has made headlines across major Canadian news outlets, capturing national attention.
A 500-kilometre protest march from Toronto to Ottawa has captured widespread Canadian media attention, drawing national focus to the plight of Turkish and Syrian earthquake survivors facing the expiration of their temporary work permits.
Sefika Ozlem Yaman Sahin and her 12-year-old son undertook the weeks-long journey to Parliament Hill to urge the federal government to extend the TS2023 special immigration measures. Introduced following the devastating February 2023 earthquake, the program offered three-year open work permits. However, with those permits nearing expiration, thousands now face immigration limbo and potential displacement.
Major Canadian outlets—including CBC News, CityNews, The Hill Times, and The Kingston Whig Standard—covered Yaman Sahin’s trek, comparing her effort to Terry Fox’s historic Marathon of Hope. Standing alongside supporters holding signs reading "We already lost our homes once; we refuse to lose them again," she emphasized that permit holders have integrated into local communities, paid taxes, and built new lives.
Community advocates and media reports are highlighting calls for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to grant a 24-month permit extension, waive Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIA), and establish clearer pathways to permanent residency.
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Ottawa CityNews: https://ottawa.citynews.ca/video/2026/08/17/mother-walks-from-toronto-to-ottawa-in-protest/
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The Kingston Whig Standard: https://www.thewhig.com/news/woman-walking-from-toronto-to-ottawa-calls-for-extension-of-disaster-related-work-permits
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Turkville: https://turkville.ca/en/news/ts2023-march-concludes-in-ottawa
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The Lanarkist: https://lanarkist.com/2026/07/28/toronto-mother-walking-from-91-kilometres-from-toronto-to-ottawa-to-raise-awareness-for-work-permits/
