New Delhi: Students who came to Canada with aspirations of building a new life are now staging protests across the country against a new federal policy that puts them at risk of getting deported from the country.
Scores of Indian student graduates have led demonstrations in response to the Justin Trudeau government’s decision to limit study permits and reduce permanent residency nominations. Protests have been ongoing for more than three months in front of the legislative assembly in Prince Edward Island (PEI) by international students, and similar demonstrations have occurred in Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
The new policies aim to cut permanent residency nominations by 25% and restrict study permits. This shift follows significant population growth in Canada, with immigration accounting for about 97% of last year’s population increase.
“I spent the most crucial six years of my life taking many risks to come to Canada,” Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student who is facing deportation, told City News Toronto. Despite studying, working, paying taxes, and earning sufficient Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, Singh feels the government has taken advantage of students like him. He, along with others who invested their family’s savings in tuition, now face the uncertainty of an expiring work permit and no clear path to permanent residency.
Students and advocacy groups, such as the International Sikh Student Organization, pointed out that these issues stem from broader policy failures rather than the migration of international students, as mentioned by the news outlet. They are urging the federal government to extend work permits and create clear pathways to permanent residency, stressing that international students significantly contribute to the Canadian economy and deserve fair treatment.
