Toronto: More than seven lakh Indian students living in Canada may have to leave the country next year. The future of these students hangs in balance due to a decision of the Trudeau government of Canada. The Trudeau government is becoming tough on tourists. Fifty lakh temporary permits are expiring next year, of which seven lakh are for students. Due to the strict attitude of the government, these students may face difficulty in getting the permit again.
Canadian immigration officials expect most foreign tourists whose permits will expire to leave Canada. Canadian Immigration Minister Mark Miller had given this information earlier this week.
Temporary work permits are usually granted for a period of nine months to three years. This work permit allows foreign students with a diploma or degree to gain the necessary experience to apply for permanent residence in Canada. According to Canadian immigration officials, a large number of students are applying for residence in Canada, which is a matter of concern. Therefore, such applications will be strictly scrutinized and fake applicants will be weeded out.
The Immigration Ministry clarified that not all temporary travelers will be required to leave the country, but some will be issued new permits or postgraduate work permits. According to Tourism Canada data, more than one million students were in Canada by the end of May 2023. About four lakh of them had postgraduate work permits by the end of 2023. But Canada is now cracking down on these permits and has cut international student permits by 35 percent in 2024. Now the Trudeau government has planned to further reduce it by ten percent in 2025.
However, the Trudeau government’s plan faces widespread opposition in its own country. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has strongly criticized Prime Minister Trudeau’s policies, saying they have created uncertainty for temporary residents of the country and are not benefiting the country.
