Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island (PEI) is facing widespread protests from hundreds of Indian students. This is reportedly due to the Canadian province's announcement introducing a 25% decrease in immigration permits. Hundreds of food service workers in PEI will not have their documents renewed, forcing them to either depart voluntarily or face deportation. The protestors claim that this sudden change in the immigration policy has left them with an uncertain future. But a pertinent question arises, why does the Canadian Province not want international students? After all, this announcement was made to control the influx of international students. Here is what we know:
Though Prince Edward Island has acted, the problem with immigration in Canada is now being associated with international students and lack of infrastructure development. Immigration to Canada, known for its accommodative immigration and citizenship policies, hit a record high in recent years.
The number of international students at Canadian universities went up from 62,223 in 2000 to 400,521 in 2021, a 544% increase. International students have been really important for Canadian universities. Since 2000, 45% of the growth in enrolment at Canadian universities is because of international students.
Statistics show the country’s working-age population grew by 411,400 people in the first four months of 2024, a 47% increase over the same period in 2023 and nearly quadruple the average for those four months from 2007 to 2022, reported Yahoo News Canada.
One of the sources of these working-age people is the high volume of international students landing in Canada. Among the international students, those from India constituted the largest national cohort, comprising 37% of the 579,075 permits issued until November 2023. This figure, however, marked a decrease from the 41% in 2022.
The number of Indians moving to Canada has gone up a lot since 2013. Between 2013 and 2023, the number rose from 32,828 to 139,715, a 326% increase. This increase was fuelled by more Indian students going to Canadian universities. The number of international students at Canadian universities went up from 62,223 in 2000 to 400,521 in 2021, a 544% increase. International students have been really important for Canadian universities. Since 2000, 45% of the growth in enrolment at Canadian universities is because of international students.
Provincial Nominee Programme
The Premier of PEI revealed a plan to cut the number of international migrants for permanent residency through the Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP). The new policy prioritises essential workers in healthcare, childcare, and construction, while deprioritising those in the food, retail, sales, and service sectors, which the international students mostly engage in.
This change reduces annual permits from about 2,100 to 1,600, a 25% cut, significantly impacting low-skill service jobs.
Jeff Young, director of the PEI Office of Immigration, met with protesters on Friday to hear their concerns.
"We know it's a difficult situation for a lot of people," Young said. "But as the premier announced on February 22, the new immigration measures aim to manage our population growth"
Young explained that the changes focus on offering a faster track to permanent residency for people with healthcare, childcare, and construction experience. However, service sector employees can still get permits.
"This year, about 215 to 220 permits have been allocated to the sales and service sector," he said, noting this is a significant decrease from the 700 to 800 permits granted in past years.
Why are the students protesting?
A reduction of approximately 25% in permits, primarily affects low-skill food service positions. Hundreds of food service workers in PEI will not have their documents renewed, forcing them to either depart voluntarily or face deportation.
The reduction has caused frustration and tension among Indian immigrants who arrived in PEI on temporary work permits. They argue they should be allowed to stay permanently and have participated in protests demanding to be "grandfathered" into the existing PNP system..
On May 9, they began protesting and haven’t stopped since. The next big protest is scheduled for May 23 at 175 Richmond Street, Charlottetown -- PEI’s capital and biggest city.
Rupinder Pal Singh, a leader of the protests, outlined three main demands.
Firstly, grandfathering current workers into the PNP system. Secondly, fair PNP draws without a point system, which currently excludes many in sales, service, food sectors, and truckers. Lastly, extension of work permits to compensate for lost opportunities due to the government's changes and economic issues.