Thousands of international students are rallying across Canada, outraged by the Trudeau government’s drastic changes to immigration policies, which threaten to deport over 70,000 graduates.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday also announced that his government will reduce the number of temporary foreign workers doing low-wage jobs.
In 2021, the work permit for international students under the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program was abolished, and last year, the federal government also introduced a two-year cap on international student visas.
In 2023, international students accounted for 37 percent of study visa holders in Canada, contributing to existing pressures from the housing crisis, unemployment, and other services. With the cap on student visas, the government expects a 35 percent reduction in the intake of foreign students.
Protesters are demanding justice, setting up encampments and organizing rallies in multiple provinces, including Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
The government’s decision to limit study permits, reduce permanent residency nominations, and abolish the Post-Graduation Work Permit program has left international students vulnerable to deportation.
Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student facing deportation, expressed his frustration: “I invested my family’s life savings in tuition, but the government has taken advantage of us.”
Immigration Minister Marc Miller justified the changes, citing the need to prevent “flagpoling,” where temporary residents exploit the system to expedite work or study permit applications. The PGWP is crucial for international students seeking employment and permanent residency, with a notable surge in issuances in 2023 as compared to 2018.
