According to City News Toronto, around 70,000 foreign students participated in nationwide demonstrations across several provinces, including Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, and British Columbia.
The protests are fueled by significant policy changes, such as the 2021 abolishment of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for international students and a two-year cap on student visas introduced last year.
These changes have had a profound impact on international students, who accounted for 37% of study visa holders in Canada in 2023, adding to the pressures from the housing crisis, unemployment, and other services. The government anticipates a 35% reduction in foreign student intake due to these policies.
In response to the situation, the Canadian government announced in June that foreign nationals would no longer be able to apply for a PGWP at the border, a move that many fear could lead to the deportation of graduates once their work permits expire at the end of the year.
Additionally, new provincial policies have introduced a 25% reduction in permanent residency nominations, further complicating the situation for international students.
Representatives from the Naujawan Support Network, a student advocacy group, have expressed concerns that these changes could result in the deportation of many graduates.
“I spent six years taking risks to come to Canada. I studied, worked, paid taxes, and earned enough Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, but the government has taken advantage of us,” Mehakdeep Singh, a former international student facing deportation, told City News Toronto.
The situation has led to ongoing protests, with international students and immigrant workers rallying against the narrative that blames them for local housing and job crises.
The Canadian government has also announced reductions in the number of temporary foreign workers employed in low-wage jobs, alongside a crackdown on “flagpoling” and other practices used to expedite work or study permit applications.
As protests continue to unfold across the country, the government faces growing pressure to address the concerns of international students and temporary foreign workers, who are demanding more transparent immigration policies and better protections against exploitation.