Thousands of students took to the streets across Canada to protest new immigration policies introduced by Justin Trudeau’s federal government.
According to reports, approximately 70,000 international students participated in the national protests, with demonstrations taking place across provinces including Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia.
In 2021, work permits for international students under the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program were abolished, and last year, the federal government also imposed a two-year cap on international student visas.
By 2023, international students will account for 37 per cent of study visa holders in Canada, contributing to existing pressures from housing, unemployment and other service crises.
With the student visa restrictions, the government estimates a 35 percent reduction in foreign student intake.
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In an effort to address this, the Canadian government announced in June that foreign nationals would no longer be able to apply for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) at the border.
Amid the protests, representatives from student advocacy group Naujawan Support Network have warned that many graduates may face deportation after their work permits expire at the end of the year.
The situation was made worse by a new provincial policy introducing a 25% reduction in permanent resident nominations.
“I spent six years taking risks to come to Canada. I studied, worked, paid taxes and earned enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, but the government has taken advantage of us,” said Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student facing deportation.
Additionally, immigrant workers have held demonstrations in recent months across Brampton, challenging claims that they are to blame for the local housing and jobs crisis.
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