--- title: "Sefika Ozlem Yaman Sahin marches 500 km to demand Canada extend earthquake refugees' permits" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/sefika-ozlem-yaman-sahin-marches-500-km-to-demand-canada-extend-earthquake-refug" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/sefika-ozlem-yaman-sahin-marches-500-km-to-demand-canada-extend-earthquake-refug" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/sefika-ozlem-yaman-sahin-marches-500-km-to-demand-canada-extend-earthquake-refug.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/sefika-ozlem-yaman-sahin-marches-500-km-to-demand-canada-extend-earthquake-refug" category: "Politics" published: "2026-08-08T11:25:33.854Z" source_reported: "2026-08-08T08:00:08.000Z" updated: "2026-08-08T11:25:33.854Z" trust_score: 56 critic_score: 95 hype_score: 15 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-08T12:48:54.933Z" --- # Sefika Ozlem Yaman Sahin marches 500 km to demand Canada extend earthquake refugees' permits *A mother and her 12-year-old son walk from Toronto to Ottawa as temporary work permits for Turkish and Syrian nationals near expiry* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 56 of 100, higher is better. Trust 56: includes named individuals and government attribution, but lacks multiple independent sources or cited documents. - Craft 95 of 100, higher is better. Critic 95: provides context, quotes affected parties, specific data, and outlines next steps clearly. - Hype 15 of 100, lower is better. Hype 15: language is measured; no sensationalism or clickbait beyond factual reporting. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - Sefika Ozlem Yaman Sahin and her 12-year-old son began a 500-kilometre march from Toronto to Ottawa on 19 July to demand an extension of the TS2023 work permits. - The TS2023 program, created after the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake, granted three-year open work permits to affected nationals, with permits now set to expire within months. - A petition by Liberal MP Sima Acan gathered over 8,000 signatures calling for a 24-month extension, but the government has not announced any changes to the program. - Community estimates suggest over 9,000 permits were issued, though Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has not released official figures. Sefika Ozlem Yaman Sahin, 47, and her 12-year-old son began walking from Toronto to Ottawa on 19 July. The 500-kilometre march is expected to conclude in the coming days. Yaman Sahin said she is walking on behalf of Turkish and Syrian nationals whose temporary work permits, issued under the TS2023 program, are set to expire within months. The TS2023 program was created in response to the February 2023 earthquake that struck the Turkey-Syria border, which killed tens of thousands and displaced millions. The Canadian government granted three-year open work permits to affected nationals, later expanding eligibility to those already in Canada on temporary permits. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said it would need at least ten days to compile data on the number of permits issued, though community estimates suggest over 9,000 were granted. In March, Liberal MP Sima Acan presented a petition with over 8,000 signatures calling for a 24-month extension of the permits. The petition also urged the government to create pathways to permanent residency for permit holders and exempt them from the Labour Market Impact Assessment. The government responded in June, stating that eligible nationals could apply to renew their visas through regular programs but did not announce any extension or new pathways. Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the issue at a news conference earlier this week. He said the government is exploring ways to help those affected find pathways to permanent residency but noted that decisions must consider provincial capacity for housing and services. Yaman Sahin and other permit holders say the uncertainty has left them unable to plan for the future, with some having invested emotionally and financially in Canada. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet ran this story at all. None of the digests, whether left or centre-rated, included the exact number of permits set to expire, as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said it would need at least ten days to compile the data. The full report in Battlefords NOW noted that it was unclear how many permit holders remain in Canada, but this detail was omitted from all digests. ## Who covered it Shares of the 13 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 62% (8) - Centre: 38% (5) - Right: 0% (0) 0 of 13 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-08T12:48:54.933Z. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 10 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-08T13:45:13.247Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - All six left-rated digests led on the personal story of Sefika Ozlem Yaman Sahin and her son’s march. They included the estimated number of permits issued under TS2023, the petition by Liberal MP Sima Acan, and the government’s response that permit holders could apply for renewals through regular programs. The digests also noted the emotional and financial investments made by permit holders in Canada. - The full report in Battlefords NOW, which the left-rated digests summarised, quoted Yaman Sahin directly: “We just need extra time to complete our process here.” It also included the voices of other permit holders, such as Can Ors, who described the anxiety of facing deportation. The report framed the march as a protest against the government’s refusal to extend the permits, using phrases like “immigration limbo” and “retraumatize” to describe the impact on permit holders. ### Centre - The five centre-rated digests also led on the march by Yaman Sahin and her son. They included the same key facts: the 500-kilometre distance, the petition by Sima Acan, and the government’s statement that permit holders could apply for renewals through regular programs. The digests mentioned the estimated 9,000 permits issued but did not emphasise the emotional or financial toll on permit holders as prominently as the left-rated reports. - The full report in Battlefords NOW, which the centre-rated digests also summarised, provided the same direct quotes from Yaman Sahin and Can Ors. It included the government’s argument that the program was always intended to be temporary and noted Prime Minister Mark Carney’s comments about considering provincial capacity for housing and services. The report used the phrase “immigration limbo” but did not frame the issue as a protest against the government’s decision. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 8 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [CBC News](https://cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/toronto-ottawa-protest-march-turkey-syria-temporary-immigration-program-9.7300598) — Mother, son trek from Toronto to Ottawa to urge program extension for Turkish, Syrian immigrants - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/canada/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo/article_1950f985-6c59-5677-887d-0997ff346cf0.html) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo - [SooToday.com](https://sootoday.com/national-news/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo-12643462) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo - [Orillia Matters](https://orilliamatters.com/national-news/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo-12643462) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo - [Battlefords NOW](https://battlefordsnow.com/2026/08/08/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo - [meadowlakeNOW](https://meadowlakenow.com/2026/08/08/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo - [Sudbury](https://sudbury.com/national/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo-12643462) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo - [Bay Today](https://baytoday.ca/national-news/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo-12643462) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo - [Medicine Hat News](https://medicinehatnews.com/news/national-news/2026/08/08/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo - [Ckpg Today](https://ckpgtoday.ca/2026/08/08/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/canada/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo/article_ff78c5bf-056f-5b1f-a035-da9c29fe7cca.html) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo - [St Catharines Standard](https://stcatharinesstandard.ca/news/canada/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo/article_0aaa0d0f-e555-57c6-b650-fc11005b9b59.html) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo - [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/canada/2026/08/08/mother-son-march-in-protest-as-turkish-syrian-nationals-face-immigration-limbo) — Mother, son march in protest as Turkish, Syrian nationals face immigration limbo ## Questions **Why are Sefika Ozlem Yaman Sahin and her son marching to Ottawa?** Sefika Ozlem Yaman Sahin and her 12-year-old son began a 500-kilometre march from Toronto to Ottawa on 19 July to demand an extension of the TS2023 work permits for Turkish and Syrian nationals. The permits, granted after the 2023 earthquake, are set to expire within months, leaving thousands facing deportation. **How many people are affected by the TS2023 permit expiry?** Community estimates suggest over 9,000 permits were issued under the TS2023 program, though Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has not released official figures. The exact number of permit holders still in Canada is also unclear. **What has the Canadian government said about extending the permits?** The government responded to a petition calling for a 24-month extension by stating that eligible Turkish and Syrian nationals could apply to renew their visas through regular programs. Prime Minister Mark Carney said the government is exploring pathways to permanent residency but must consider provincial capacity for housing and services. **Which outlets reported on the march, and which did not?** Eleven outlets reported on the march, all rated as left or centre. Six left-rated outlets and five centre-rated outlets ran digests of the story. No right-rated outlet covered the march or the permit expiry. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/sefika-ozlem-yaman-sahin-marches-500-km-to-demand-canada-extend-earthquake-refug. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "Sefika Ozlem Yaman Sahin marches 500 km to demand Canada extend earthquake refugees' permits", https://mediabias.news/politics/sefika-ozlem-yaman-sahin-marches-500-km-to-demand-canada-extend-earthquake-refug