International students, primarily from India, are protesting Canada’s recent decision to end a policy allowing the extension of post-graduate work permits (PGWPs) by 18 months. The protests, which began in late August in Brampton, Ontario, have since spread to other provinces like Prince Edward Island and Manitoba.
Many students whose work permits have already expired, or are set to expire by the end of 2023, are demanding fair immigration pathways to permanent residency (PR). In response to housing shortages and inflation concerns, the Canadian government has tightened its intake of international students, capping the numbers earlier in 2023.
This move follows the government’s December 2023 announcement that students with PGWPs expiring after December 31, 2023, would no longer qualify for extensions. Protesters argue that Canada is not considering the disruptions caused by COVID-19, which halted the bi-weekly express entry PR draws and delayed the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Bikram Gill, a former international student, emphasized that many students rely on PGWP extensions due to these pandemic-related delays. Meanwhile, other students like Mehakdeep Singh, whose PGWP expires soon, worry that changing immigration policies will prevent them from securing PR status, despite meeting job requirements.
The protesters, gathering in groups of up to 120 people, say the government has raised the bar for the express entry system, making it harder to meet eligibility criteria. Leaders like Jaspreet Singh, representing the International Sikh Students Association in Toronto, have attempted to negotiate with immigration authorities but have yet to receive a favorable response.
The protests also come amid a notable rise in undocumented Indian students moving to the U.S., as Canada’s evolving immigration rules limit their legal avenues to stay. Many protesters are calling for the creation of new PR pathways, an extension of permits expiring in 2024 and 2025, and the removal of the Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) program, which some claim is being exploited by employers and consultants.
With Indian students making up the majority of international students in Canada, experts predict a sharp decline in study permits in 2024 due to tightening diplomatic relations between Canada and India.
