The newfound changes in Canada’s immigration policies have left thousands of international students in limbo, facing uncertainty in their academic endeavours and stricter scrutiny of study permits. In October, 2024 the federal government announced significant reductions in immigration targets.
Zeba Munira is a fourth-year international student at Carleton University who immigrated to Canada from Qatar, she says the policy shifts have been very disheartening for herself and her community of friends living in Qatar, who dream of a better life in Canada. Munira says a lot of people she knows grow up with the hope of studying in Canada as it is often marketed as one of the top countries for education, but now, she does not feel that her life will be sustainable with the recent budget cuts that impact study permits. Munira is like many international students who embark on a journey to Canada with hopes of a better future, but their path is fraught with obstacles such as delays and uncertainties in post-graduation work, pathways to permanent residency and permit approvals.
“I don’t really see a future for myself here. As it is, international tuition is expensive along with living costs. For students like me who are investing in their future here, hearing this news is very demotivating,” said Munira
“I am in my final year of studies where I was looking forward to building a life for myself, and now that seems like a distant dream. I have many friends in Qatar who want to come here and study but now just getting a study permit is going to be difficult.”
The new immigration policies are expected to significantly decrease the influx of international students choosing to study in Canada. Under the government’s Immigration Levels Plan, eligibility requirements for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program will be tightened “to better align the program with immigration goals and labour market needs.”
Laura Trudell, assistant director of the International Student Services Office (ISSO) at Carleton University said that navigating supports for international students is their department’s top priority at this time.
“When it comes to helping students navigate the changing immigration landscape, the ISSO has licensed International Student Advisors who are able to provide guidance and support on immigration applications and processes,” she said.
According to Mary Rose Sabater, communications advisor for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the government will continue to prioritize the cultural and economic benefits that international students bring to the country. But she said that the reduction in permanent resident is needed “to help align immigration planning with community capacity.”
An overcapacity of foreign students “have made some students vulnerable and have challenged the integrity of the International Student program,” she said.
Sabater added that the Government of Canada is continuing to work closely with provinces and territories’ designated learning institutions as well as the national education stakeholders to develop a sustainable pathway for the future of international students entering and living in the country.
Meanwhile, temporary service workers – who often rely on pathways to permanent residency, are grappling with reduced opportunities amid stricter residency regulations and processing delays.
One immigration and refugee lawyer says she fears the discourse around Canada’s immigration policy will lead to increased racial discrimination and employer exploitation.,
“I am very concerned about the recent changes, and in particular, the scapegoating of migrants for the housing and affordability crisis in Canada right now,” said Amanda Aziz, an immigration and refugee lawyer who specializes in assisting low-wage migrant workers.
“The rhetoric and change in policy will only fuel more racism and violence against already marginalized migrant communities. There have also been some changes to the temporary foreign worker programs, but nothing that will reduce the exploitation and abuse that migrant workers already experience,” she said.
Many political leaders have blamed immigration to some extent on the housing affordability crisis, though many experts have argued that Canada’s housing issues run much deeper than immigration numbers.
Aziz claims that the reduction in permanent residency will lead to precarious, undocumented immigrants who seek alternative entry. She said that without permanent status, migrant workers will face increased abuse and maltreatment due to their dependency on employers and work authorization. Assisting people seeking safety in Canada to file refugee claims, will become significantly harder, worsening conditions for workers.
