Protests erupt across Canada as 70,000 international students face deportation

 

Tens of thousands of international students have taken to the streets to protest the new policies introduced by the Justin Trudeau-led federal government.

Demonstrations took place across provinces including Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.

In 2021, the work permit for international students under the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program was abolished, and last year, the federal government also introduced a two-year cap on international student visas.

In 2023, international students accounted for 37 percent of study visa holders in Canada, contributing to existing pressures from the housing crisis, unemployment, and other services. With the cap on student visas, the government expects a 35 percent reduction in the intake of foreign students.

 To address this, the Canadian government in June announced that foreign nationals can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border. 

 Amid the protests, representatives from the student advocacy group Naujawan Support Network have warned that many graduates could face deportation once their work permits expire at the end of the year