More than 70,000 foreign students in Canada are at risk of being deported due to recent changes in federal immigration policy. These students, who came to Canada in the hope of a new life, are now protesting across the country against the Justin Trudeau government’s decision to limit education permits and reduce permanent residence (PR) nominations.
Across Canada, students have set up camp and are holding rallies in different provinces. These include Prince Edward Island (PEI), Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia. In PEI, hundreds of students have been protesting outside the Legislative Assembly for the past three months. These students are challenging the change in immigration policy.
Representatives from the Youth Support Network, a student advocacy group, have warned that many graduates could face immigration delays later this year after their work permits expire. The situation has become particularly dire as new provincial policies have cut permanent residence nominations by 25%, leaving many students unexpectedly vulnerable.
“I took risks for six years to come to Canada. I studied, worked, paid off loans, and completed the required points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), but the government has taken advantage of us,” Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student who is facing immigration, told City News Toronto.
Mehakdeep Singh, who invested his family’s life savings to pay for his tuition fees, now faces a tough deadline with no assurance of permanent residency.
Why did Canada cut education visas for international students?
In 2023, about 37% of international students on education visas will put a lot of pressure on Canada’s housing, health care and other services. In response, the Canadian government has imposed a cap on international student permit applications over the next two years to deal with this increased burden.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the limit is expected to hover around 360,000 permits in 2024, a 35% drop from the previous year.
Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has announced that foreign nationals can no longer apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) at the border starting June 21. The decision targets “flagpoling,” where temporary residents can expedite their work or study permit applications by first exiting Canada and then re-entering the country.
The PGWP is an important means for international students to find employment and permanent residence. It has seen a significant increase in 2023 compared to 2018. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau also announced on Monday that his government will reduce the number of temporary foreign workers engaged in low-paying jobs.
Indian students are the target of Canadian government?
Frustration among international students in Brampton has led to further protests, where hundreds of students have rallied against perceptions that blame them for the local housing and job crisis. Groups such as the International Sikh Student Organisation argue that these problems are the result of broader policy failures, not the influx of international students.
The protests have highlighted growing frustration among international students who feel they are being unfairly targeted by the government. These students, who have invested heavily in their education and the Canadian economy, are now being asked to complete their studies and return home, while they have to repay huge loans taken from banks in the future.
They are demanding the government to extend post-graduation work permits, provide a clear and transparent path to permanent residency, and address the exploitation they face by the system.
Source (PTI) (NDTV) (HINDUSTANTIMES)