2024-08-30 14:06:31
Ottawa: Until a few years ago, taking admission in a Canadian college meant an easy path to a work permit and then permanent residence. Thousands of Indian students used to take admission in such colleges, which were called degree mills. Most of the students taking admission in these colleges were from Punjab, who used to get permanent residence and then citizenship over time. That easy path to the dream of settling in Canada has now been obstructed, because Canada is struggling with unemployment and a sluggish economy. Meanwhile, the government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, which is facing public opposition over immigration, has decided to limit the number of temporary foreign workers. This will mean a large number of deportations.
Foreign students and workers took to the streets
After this decision of the Canadian government, the future of a large number of international students and foreign students has come to a crisis. Even though it is a matter of work permit and residence privilege, thousands of students and temporary foreign workers have taken to the streets to put pressure on the Canadian government. They hope that they will get support from Canadians of Indian origin, who form a large voter group. Protests have been going on for several months in the Canadian province of Prince Edward Island (PEI). Here temporary foreign workers and students are camping outside the state legislature.
Policies changed in states too
Along with the federal government, impractical policies are being implemented against foreign workers in the Canadian provinces as well. In February, the PEI government announced that it would cut the number of people from other countries eligible for permanent residence in Canada through the Provincial Nomination Program. This reduction is to be 25 percent. The new program states that now priority will be given to people working in specific occupations. At the same time, local people will be given jobs in retail and service sector industries. This means that thousands of foreign workers will not be able to extend their work permit when it is over and they will have to return.
Discrimination against international students
Protests by international students and temporary foreign workers have spread to several states. Canadian officials have stressed that study permits should not be considered a guarantee of permanent residence. But meanwhile a new trend has emerged against foreign students in Canada. Students who failed in many colleges have protested claiming that the grading system was not fair. Many of them are Indians as well. Protesters say that colleges fail them to get extra fees.
Anger over Trudeau’s arbitrary decree
Meanwhile, a tyrannical decree by Justin Trudeau on Monday has enraged international students. Trudeau said that the country will reduce the number of low-paid foreign workers and local people will be recruited in their place. Protests have erupted since then. Work permits, residency and easy path to citizenship have attracted foreign youth from the Global South, including India, to Canada, but their increasing number is creating a crisis of jobs not only for locals but also for temporary foreign workers.
Bloomberg reports that temporary residents and recently arrived immigrants are driving up Canada’s unemployment rate. The record number of newcomers to the country is now struggling to find work. According to Bloomberg calculations, the unemployment rate for temporary residents was 11% in June. This includes foreign workers, international students and asylum seekers. The unemployment rate for all workers was just 6.2% that same month. Immigrants who arrived in the last five years are also having a hard time finding a job, with their unemployment rate reaching 12.6% in June.