Amidst the ongoing housing shortage and increasing living costs, the Canadian government’s immigration targets and plans for international students are being closely examined. Immigration Minister Marc Miller has stated that adjustments may need to be made to international student enrollments, but the government has no intention of reducing immigration numbers. However, the question remains as to what these adjustments should look like and whether they will be sufficient to protect international students from exploitation.
Varun Khanna, president of the Montreal Youth Students Organization (MYSO), believes that there should be a limit on how much institutions can charge international students. He argues that it is unfair for them to pay significantly higher fees compared to domestic students. Khanna highlights the difficult financial situations many students find themselves in, where they are forced to work excessive hours to pay off their fees and cover their rent. In cities like Brampton, it is common for students to live in overcrowded conditions due to their limited income.
Bikram Singh, a member of the advocacy group Naujawan Support Network, emphasizes the lack of support for international students once they arrive in Canada. He believes that mandatory orientation programs should be implemented to help students adjust to their new lives and become aware of their rights. Singh also suggests lifting the 20-hours-per-week work limit imposed on international students, as the high cost of living and tuition make it difficult for them to make ends meet. He argues that this restriction only leads to further exploitation, with students being paid below minimum wage for demanding jobs.
The Canadian government acknowledges the need to review the international students program, particularly in light of concerns related to fraud. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is engaging in consultations with universities, colleges, and other stakeholders to better manage the program. However, this does not mean that the number of student visas being issued will be reduced.
Housing is also a pressing issue for international students, and the IRCC is actively addressing it in their consultations. The department is conducting a review of the program to improve the selection and retention of students who can contribute to Canada’s economic, social, and cultural goals. They are working closely with educational institutions to tackle ongoing challenges like international student fraud and housing.
According to Statistics Canada, the country continues to experience significant labor shortages, with 34-36% of businesses struggling to recruit skilled workers. International students working off-campus have become a vital part of the government’s strategy to fill these gaps. The number of international students with paid employment has steadily increased, prompting the temporary lifting of the 20-hour work limit in November 2020. The impact of this exemption on labor shortages is being assessed by the IRCC to make informed decisions in the future.
In May 2021, a group of international students protested against deportation orders they received due to a massive scam by an immigration consultant. These students claim that they were issued fake college admission letters by their consultants. The evaluation process for these cases is still ongoing.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
