The federal government's revision of international student policies has sparked protests, and a large number of international students have gathered in Binton to oppose it
According to an article in the New York Times, Sachindep Singh, who is 23 years old this year, arrived in Canada as an international student in 2019. According to the original regulations, his study abroad status allowed him to work and qualify for applying for permanent residency, a method known as "study work stay" on the Canadian government's immigration website. But after inviting millions of new immigrants to Canada in recent years to help boost the economy, the government has changed its policies as people are increasingly concerned that immigration is exacerbating Canada's challenges in housing, healthcare, and other areas.
A series of measures introduced this year focus on modifying Canada's massive temporary residency program, which has set obstacles and left hundreds of thousands of immigrants like Singh in legal trouble. Singh's international student program has achieved his dream of permanent residency in Canada through education, attracting hundreds of thousands of young people - many of whom are from India.
Image source: New York Times
International students are eligible to obtain a work permit after graduation and continue to legally reside in Canada, making them one of the main categories of temporary residents. The other group is workers invited by specific employers, while the smallest group is immigrants seeking asylum.
During the pandemic, due to the Canadian economy's difficulty in filling the labor shortage, this temporary residency program was strengthened after the pandemic.
Therefore, according to government statistics, nearly 3 million people living in Canada have some form of temporary immigration status, with 2.2 million people arriving in the past two years alone. Temporary residents account for 6.8% of Canada's total population of 41.3 million, up from 3.5% in 2022.
But now, the Canadian economy is creating fewer and fewer job opportunities, and the unemployment rate remains high, exceeding 6%. The unemployment rate for temporary residents is even higher, reaching 14%.
Many Canadian cities are facing a housing affordability crisis, with healthcare systems in several provinces overwhelmed. Critics say that the large number of temporary residents has exacerbated these issues and worsened public sentiment towards immigrants.
In response, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller has announced a series of measures to reduce immigration quotas since the beginning of this year, including lowering the number of student visas issued and limiting the number of temporary foreign workers that companies can hire.
Public opinion polls show that the majority of Canadians believe that the Canadian government has accepted too many new immigrants in a too short period of time. For example, a public opinion poll in August showed that two-thirds of Canadians believe that the current immigration policy has allowed too many people to enter.
However, many immigrants believe they have been unfairly targeted, claiming that they were invited to Canada but had to leave if their work permits were not renewed.
Some experts believe that the pressure on the housing market or healthcare reflects long-term government underinvestment rather than the consequences of high immigration rates.
Image source: irishtimes
As part of the government's efforts to control temporary residency programs, many immigrants (such as Singh) may not be able to renew their work permits that are about to expire or have already expired.
Singh and his family in India spent CAD 40000 to pursue a degree in Office Management and Hotel Management at a university in Canada, believing that this will ensure a stable foundation for him in the country of immigration. However, he is currently working hard to come up with other options.
He can return to a university in Canada, pay higher international student tuition fees in exchange for a work permit and continue seeking permanent residency. Alternatively, he could apply for a visit visa, even though it would not grant him the legal right to work. He could also return to India, but considering the time and money he has invested in Canada, this is the least attractive option for him.
Image source: X
Gurpreet Malhotra, CEO of Community Services India, stated that many temporary residents' permits have expired or are about to expire, and the challenges they face are pushing some people onto dangerous or illegal roads. This company is a government funded organization that helps immigrants.
He said that some people eventually illegally reside and work as cleaners in warehouses or restaurant kitchens, earning only a small portion of the minimum wage. He said that the urgent need for money also makes them vulnerable to recruitment by criminal groups.
He added that some people may apply for asylum even if they do not meet the criteria, as this can buy them time to stay. According to government data, approximately 13000 international students applied for asylum in the first eight months of this year, more than double the number for the entire year of last year.
Some people have also decided to travel to the United States, as the number of people illegally crossing the northern border from Canada has surged to record levels.
In Binton, Singh and dozens of international students (mostly from India) gather in a parking lot every afternoon to console each other, exchange information on policy changes, and hold protests.
They held signs that read: 'Good Enough to Work. Good Enough to Stay'. We are good enough to stay
Gurpatap Singh Toor is a city councilor from the Binton and Peel districts, who arrived in Canada as an immigrant in 2011. He said that the Canadian government's rapid policy change after years of relying on temporary residents is too much. When you start cutting so actively, "he said," there will be a feeling of betrayal
Source link:
https://www.irishtimes.com/world/canada/2024/10/13/canada-one-of-the-worlds-most-immigrant-friendly-countries-is-changing-course/