Prince Edward Island, a stunning province in Canada, is the site of a significant demonstration. A group of international students—mostly from India—both present and former were out protesting in the streets against a policy change that might compromise the chance to continue their studies in the country. Amid the turmoil, many students were frantically searching for flight tickets from Canada to India, fearing they might have to leave if the policy went into effect.
The problem is said to center around the Province Nominee Program (PNP), which is a lifesaver to numerous international students pursuing permanent residency (PR) in Canada. Indian students typically attend Ontario or British Columbian colleges. However, many leave these heavily crowded areas for smaller, less populated provinces like PEI after learning about the fierce competition for PR. Due to job constraints and aging populations, these provinces have traditionally depended on the PNP to draw in temporary residents and maintain population growth.
These provinces have historically relied on the PNP to attract temporary workers and sustain population growth because of labor shortages and aging populations.
Surge in Immigration and Impact on PEI
Recently, immigration to Canada has surged at a never-before-seen rate. More international students have been enrolled in PEI in particular than its PNP could handle. The province government has now decided to prioritize PR for workers in vital industries including healthcare, early childhood education, and construction. This new focus puts a lot of international students—who largely work in the food and retail industries—in a precarious position.
To make matters worse, many students now have few options after the federal government said in December 2023 that the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) would not be renewed. They have to decide between going back to their home countries or protesting in the hopes that legislation will change since their permits are about to expire.
The Protest and Its Implications
Desperate actions like this one bring to mind previous times when student rallies forced concessions from the government, such as stopping the deportation of students who presented phony admissions letters. However, the current political climate is different. Given the recent nomination of a new immigration minister, declining public popularity ratings, and heightened competition for jobs, it seems unlikely that the government will be kind.
The Students’ Demands
The following are the three primary demands that the students have stated in protest.
- Grandfathering into the PNP System: Under the old structure, students who were in Canada with valid work permits before the policy change should have been able to complete their studies.
- Fair PNP Illustrations A Point System Ignored: The recent removal of sectors like as commerce, services, and vehicles from the PNP draws has hurt a lot of pupils. The protesters are requesting equal opportunities with others.
- Extension of Work Permits: Students are asking for an extension of their work permits so they have more time to complete the new PR requirements.
India’s Response
This PEI demonstration might be the first of many as foreign students throughout Canada grapple with the new reality of stricter immigration laws. Although the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has acknowledged the substantial number of Indian students studying in Canada, it has downplayed the gravity of the situation, claiming to be unaware of any major deportation issues.
During a weekly press conference, Randhir Jaiswal, the spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), spoke about the subject. Although he acknowledged that there was a significant number of Indian students in Canada, he stated that no significant complaints about deportation fears have reached the government. “You know we have a lot of students who have gone to Canada to study,” Jaiswal continued. That’s a rather impressive amount. But you say that many children are facing problems that we are not aware of at this time. Sorry about the expulsion. I don’t have any updates on that. We are unaware of this.
Jaiswal went on, “The MEA does not believe that there is a significant issue impacting students in Canada as a whole, though there might be isolated cases.” That’s all there is to it; there may be a single case here or there. But we don’t think there are any serious problems with Canadian students.”
The protests in Prince Edward Island may be a sign of larger-scale unrest among international students studying in Canada due to the tightening of immigration regulations. There isn’t a work permit extension available for many of them, and their permits are due to expire.
In conclusion, Indian students in a Canadian province are planning to protest against recent changes to immigration restrictions to show their determination to secure their future abroad. For those impacted, consider booking last minute flights to India from Canada with Flyopedia for a quick return home.
Also Read: Diving into Diversity: Exploring Cultural Fusion with Indian Students
