As Canada undergoes significant immigration policy changes, tens of thousands of international students have protested against the new regulations introduced by the Justin Trudeau-led federal government.
City News Toronto reports that approximately 70,000 international students have participated in nationwide demonstrations, with protests spanning provinces such as Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
The unrest follows the 2021 abolition of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program and a new two-year cap on international student visas introduced last year.
In 2023, international students made up 37 percent of study visa holders in Canada, intensifying pressures related to housing, unemployment, and other services. The government anticipates a 35 percent reduction in foreign student intake due to the visa cap.
In response to these challenges, the Canadian government announced in June that foreign nationals can no longer apply for a PGWP at the border.
Student advocacy group Naujawan Support Network has warned that many graduates might face deportation when their work permits expire at the year’s end.
The situation has been exacerbated by new provincial policies reducing permanent residency nominations by 25 percent.
“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,” Mehakdeep Singh, an international student facing deportation, told City News Toronto.
In recent months, immigrant workers in Brampton have also rallied, countering accusations that they are responsible for local housing and job crises.
