Indian students in Canada are currently engaging in protests against the newly implemented immigration policy, which has created a cloud of doubt regarding their future in the country, leaving them at risk of being deported. This policy has been introduced to regulate population growth by restricting the opportunities for permanent residency nominations and study permits.
Thousands of international students, with a significant number being Indian, in Canada are currently participating in nationwide protests due to concerns about potential deportation resulting from recent federal policy changes affecting immigrant workers. These protests have spread across various Canadian cities as both international students and skilled workers come together to advocate for their rights. They are fervently calling for revisions to immigration policies that could ultimately dictate whether they can continue residing in the country they have embraced as their new home, or if they will be compelled to depart.
Indian students who have relocated to North America with aspirations of creating improved livelihoods have been staging peaceful protests outside the legislative assembly in Prince Edward Island for more than three months. The protest movement has spread to other provinces such as Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia, underscoring the mounting dissatisfaction and unease among individuals who migrated to Canada envisioning a brighter future, only to encounter frustrating bureaucratic hurdles and a growing sense of uncertainty regarding immigration opportunities.
Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student, expressed his frustration, stating that he had dedicated six years of his life to taking risks to come to Canada. He diligently studied, worked, paid taxes, and earned enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, only to find himself in a situation where the government is threatening him with deportation.
Why protest is happening?
The latest immigration policy aims to address the pressing issues of housing shortages and job scarcity by reducing the number of permanent residency nominations. This initiative is a response to the significant population surge in Canada in recent years, with statistics from the Federal agency indicating that approximately 97% of the country’s population growth last year was attributed to immigration. To manage this population increase, Canada plans to impose restrictions on study permits and decrease the number of permanent residency nominations by 25%.
Concerns have been raised by Naujawan Support, a student advocacy group, highlighting the potential risk of deportation for graduates once their work permits expire this year.
In response to the substantial number of international students, who made up 37 per cent of study visa holders in 2023, the Canadian government has introduced a limit on new study permit applications. This new restriction is anticipated to lead to approximately 360,000 approved study permits in 2024, marking a 35 per cent decrease from the prior year.
Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, recently announced changes to the process of applying for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) for foreign nationals. The new measure aims to put an end to the practice known as “flagpole,” where temporary residents leave and re-enter Canada to speed up their permit applications at the border.
Governments Response
Amid a pressing housing and employment dilemma at the local level, there is mounting pressure on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration to diminish the influx of temporary residents, which has experienced a remarkable surge in recent years. Mr. Trudeau is facing a decline in popularity in the polls leading up to an anticipated election next year.
Given the current situation in Canada, the government has decided to scale back the intake of temporary foreign workers, a shift from its previous plan to expand the program in 2022. This program enables immigrants to contribute to the Canadian workforce on a short-term basis, to address labour shortages within the country.
The number of temporary foreign worker permits granted in 2023 saw a significant surge, reaching 183,820, marking an 88% increase from the figures in 2019, according to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The ESDC rebuked employers for exploiting the program to bypass hiring skilled Canadian workers.
Under the newly implemented reforms, work permits will be declined in areas where the unemployment rate equals or exceeds 6%. However, certain sectors such as agriculture, food processing, construction, and healthcare will be exempt from these changes.
Justin Trudeau said He emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining Canada as a hospitable environment for immigrants while upholding responsible integration and ensuring pathways to success for all newcomers.
Furthermore, the government has pledged to implement additional measures aimed at reducing the temporary resident population to 5% of Canada’s total population within three years.
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