Hundreds of Indian students and graduates have been protesting across Canada against new federal immigration policies that they fear could lead to their deportation. The demonstrations, which have taken place in cities such as Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia, highlight the deep concerns over recent changes to Canada’s immigration system.
The Canadian government’s new policies aim to reduce permanent residency nominations by 25 percent and impose stricter limits on study permits. This move has created uncertainty for more than 70,000 international students, predominantly from India, who are now worried about their future in the country.
The protests have been ongoing for over three months, with students camped out in front of the legislative assembly in Prince Edward Island and staging similar demonstrations in other provinces. The new regulations come as Canada has experienced rapid population growth, with immigration contributing to 97 percent of last year’s population increase, according to federal data.
Representatives from the Naujawan Support Network, a student advocacy group, have voiced alarm over the potential impact of these policies. They warn that graduates could face deportation when their work permits expire at the end of the year.
Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student and protester, shared his distress with OMNI News, expressing frustration over the perceived exploitation by the Canadian government. Singh, who spent six years studying and working in Canada, invested his family’s life savings into his education with the hope of eventually obtaining permanent residency.
The protests come at a time when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government faces criticism and pressure to address local housing and job crises. The Trudeau administration is also scaling back its temporary foreign worker program, which was expanded in 2022 but is now being reduced due to concerns about labor market impacts. The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) has criticized employers for using the program to bypass hiring local talent, despite a steep 88 percent increase in temporary foreign worker permits granted from 2019 to 2023.
Under the new policies, work permits will be denied in regions with an unemployment rate of 6 percent or higher, although exemptions will be made for sectors such as agriculture, food processing, construction, and healthcare.
In response to the growing discontent, Prime Minister Trudeau stated, “We’re looking at the various streams to make sure that as we move forward, Canada remains a place that is positive in its support for immigration, but also responsible in the way we integrate and make sure there’s pathways to success for everyone who comes to Canada.”
Sources By Agencies
