Demonstrations are currently unfolding across Canada as around 70,000 international students face the looming risk of deportation. This alarming figure was reported by CityNews Toronto, citing the Naujawan Support Network, an organization advocating for students. The group highlighted that more than 70,000 graduates might be forced to leave Canada when their work permits expire at the end of this year.
This development follows a recent announcement by the Trudeau administration regarding stricter rules on the number of temporary foreign workers allowed in the country. The policy, first revealed in January, will reduce the issuance of new international student permits by 35% compared to 2023 levels, effective September 1, 2024.
In addition, starting in September, international students will face new restrictions, limiting them to working off-campus for a maximum of 24 hours per week.
In response to these changes, a group of students has been staging a protest outside the legislative assembly in Prince Edward Island, with some camping overnight for more than three months. Similar demonstrations have been reported in Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
The situation is further complicated by new provincial policies that have introduced a 25% reduction in permanent residency nominations, leaving many students unexpectedly vulnerable to deportation.
In addition to protesting federal policy changes, international students and immigrant workers have held rallies across Brampton over the past few months. These rallies push back against claims that international students are to blame for local housing and job shortages. The International Sikh Student Organization argues that these issues stem from broader policy failures, not the influx of international students.
Advocacy groups and students are urging the federal government to extend work permits and establish clear pathways to permanent residency, emphasizing the significant contributions these students make to the Canadian economy.
On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a reduction in the percentage of temporary foreign workers that employers can hire in low-wage positions, lowering it from 20% to 10% of their total workforce. This measure is part of a broader effort to manage the surge in temporary immigration that followed the pandemic.
These changes, set to take effect on September 26, follow previous adjustments made earlier this year. Additionally, the government will no longer process applications from employers in regions with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher. The maximum employment duration in the low-wage stream will also be reduced from two years to one.
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