Indians Protest Brampton, Indians Work Permit Canada, Punjab Work permit Canada: Amid India and Canada's diplomatic standoff over Hardeep Singh Nijjar's death, Indians living in Canada have been protesting against Justin Trudeau's administration over their 'use and throw' policy. As per reports, Indian students and work permit holders mostly from Punjab have been protesting against the Justin Trudeau-led Canadian government for the past 52 days at Queen Street, Brampton. The students and work permit holders are protesting against the Canadian government as almost 1.3 lakh may face deportation as their work permits are coming to an end by December 2024. While India and Canada are at loggerheads, the work permits of more than 1 lakh people mostly from Punjabi community seem in limbo.
As per reports, the students mostly from Punjab fearing deportation have been protesting since August 29, 2024, demanding an extension in post-graduate work permit (PGWP), fair policy for permanent residency, and an end to “exploitation”. As per Indian Express, the Indian students' protest in Canada is being led by Bikram Singh Kullewal of Naujawan Student Network (NSN) and has also been supported by Montreal Youth Students Organisation (MYSO).
MYSO convenor Mandeep. was quoted saying, "Nearly 1.3 lakh students are at risk as their work permits will expire on December 31. They are seeking an extension in work permit so as to continue staying in Canada. However for the past one year, the strained diplomatic ties between the India and Canada have created unnecessary fear among immigrants and students."
Another volunteer of the organization was quoted saying, "At the same time, foreign governments take advantage of the helplessness of immigrants and international students by using them as cheap labour to strengthen their economy, thus exploiting them without granting permanent citizenship or equal human rights."
Why Canada is not resolving the issue of Indians?
Justin Trudeau's government is facing the heat over Canada's jobs and housing crisis. Hence, the government came up with a limiting immigration solution. For the unversed, a PGWP is granted to an international student soon after they complete their studies. The move by the Canadian government is said to impact around 1.3 lakh international students. Furthermore, Canada introduced a two-year cap on the intake of international students in January.
In December 2023, the Trudeau government announced it would not offer extensions to students whose PGWPs expired after December 31, 2023. As per The Wire, there were over 800,000 international students in 2022, up from 214,000 a decade ago when the study visa program picked up pace in Canada.
On 18th September 2024, Marc Miller, the Canadian Immigration Minister announced multiple measures. He stated, “The measures we have taken up until now are working, when you look at the growth, we have seen in people who are temporary residents of Canada, that is something that has grown almost exponentially over the last few years."