Thousands of international students across Canada are protesting the government’s recent policy changes, which they say will devastate their lives and futures.
Gatekeepers News reports that the changes, announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government, include:
– A two-year cap on international student visas
– A 35% reduction in foreign student intake
– The elimination of post-graduation work permits (PGWP) at the border
– A 25% reduction in permanent residency nominations
These policies have put over 70,000 international student graduates at risk of deportation, as they will no longer be eligible for work permits or permanent residency.
The students argue that they have been unfairly targeted and that the policies will have far-reaching consequences for their careers and lives.
The protests, taking place from coast-to-coast, demand that the government reconsider its policies and find alternative solutions to address the pressures from the housing crisis, unemployment, and other services.
Students are setting up encampments and organising rallies in various provinces, including Prince Edward Island (PEI), Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
One of the students affected by the policy changes is Mehakdeep Singh, who invested his family’s life savings in tuition.
Singh, who faces deportation with no guarantee of permanent residency, told City News Toronto, “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.”
The students are supported by advocacy groups like the Naujawan Support Network, which warns that many graduates could face deportation when their work permits expire at the end of the year.
